Ingredients:

  • 1 whole fish (approx. 2-3 lbs/900g-1.4kg), such as sea bass, snapper, or branzino, scaled and gutted
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh herbs, such as parsley, rosemary, thyme, and oregano, roughly chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for marinade)
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon (for marinade)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (for marinade)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for marinade)

Instructions:

  1. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. If using the marinade, whisk together the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and brush all over the fish, inside and out. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes (or longer in the fridge).
  2. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  3. Season the inside cavity of the fish with salt and pepper. Stuff with lemon slices, garlic slices, and chopped fresh herbs.
  4. Drizzle the bottom of the roasting pan (or baking sheet) with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
  5. Place the fish in the prepared roasting pan. Roast for 25-35 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Check doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the fish – it should register 145°F (63°C). The eyes of the fish should be white.
  6. Let the fish rest for 5 minutes before serving.