Grilled or Roasted Whole Red Snapper

Name: Grilled or Roasted Whole Red Snapper
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 whole (3-pound) red snapper, cleaned and scaled; 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley; 2 tablespoons salted capers, rinsed and finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1 tablespoon canola oil, plus more for rubbing

4.0

(601)

2 Reviews

Grilling or roasting a whole fish is easy with this recipe, which gives options for both cooking methods.

By Grace Parisi

Updated on February 1, 2023

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

4

Ingredients

1 (3-pound) red snapper, cleaned and scaled
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons salted capers, rinsed and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil, plus more for rubbing

Directions

Chop parsley, capers and garlic, and combine with crushed red pepper and a large pinch of salt. Transfer paste to a small bowl and stir in oil. Make 5 parallel 3-inch-long slashes on each side of snapper, slicing almost through to bone. Lightly season fish with salt and fill slashes with paste. Rub fish all over with canola oil.
To roast snapper, preheat oven to 425°F. Transfer fish to a heavy rimmed baking sheet so it stands upright. To keep fish stable, splay belly flaps and set a crumpled foil ball under tail. Roast fish for 30 minutes, until flesh just flakes. Transfer fish to a platter. Using 2 forks, lift fillets off bones and serve.
To grill snapper, preheat grill to medium (400°F). Place fish in a metal grilling basket brushed with canola oil. Place basket on grill grate; grill, reducing heat if needed to maintain temperature of 400°F, until fish is lightly charred on first side, 10 minutes. Carefully flip basket; grill until fish is lightly charred on other side, 10 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice over fish and serve.

Steamed Whole Red Snapper — © Yunhee Kim

Suggested pairing

A bright, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc.