Baked Whole Fish

Submitted by Bev I Am

"Top Baked fish with butter, lemon juice and perphaps sliced almonds."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 2-4

ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 - 3 lbs whole fish, with or without head
• 2 -3 slices lemons
• 2 -3 slices onions
• 2 -3 slices celery
• salt and pepper
• onion salt
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice
• bacon, strips
• 2 -3 tablespoons butter

directions

1. Soak the fish in cold, salted water for 15-30 minutes; drain and dry slightly.
2. Preheat oven to 400.
3. Season cavity with lemon slices, celery, onion, salt, and pepper and 2 TBS lemon juice.
4. Close the fish and place bacon strips on top or around fish.
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion salt and remainder of lemon juice.
6. Cover with pats of butter and bake until flesh is white and flakes apart with fork (about 30 minutes for a 2 1/2 pound fish or 40-45 minutes for a 3 pounder).
7. the fish may be broiled at the end to brown the bacon.
8. Cut into 1 1/2 inch wide sections and serve with lemon wedges.
9. Serves 2-4, depending on size of fish.
10. Note: Other vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes may be cooked with the fish if desired.

Reviews

[evelynathens]

I used one large sea bass in this delicious recipe and it made a lovely Sunday lunch for us. The onion and celery didn't get soft enough in the baking time required to cook the fish - and I wasn't sure if they were to be eaten with the fish or discarded. (I had minced the celery quite fine rather than sliced, cause I wasn't sure exactly what 2-3 slices of celery would be - minced a whole rib). I do like the flavour they imparted to the fish and so, next time, I will sweat them (the onion and celery) for a bit in some butter to speed up the cooking process, and then stuff the fish. I loved the flavour given by the bacon, too. Couldn't be simpler and really delicious!