Recipe: Whole Branzino with Cabbage-Kale Salad

This dish is simple and fresh, and an absolute favorite. Cooking fish whole with the bones gives it an intense, delicious flavor. It’s convenient and quick, and loaded with protein and nutrients.

2 whole fresh Branzino on black cutting board on concrete table with sprigs of parsley and lemon

Whole Branzino with Cabbage-Kale Salad

This dish is simple and fresh, and an absolute favorite of mine.

Course Main Course

Servings

Calories 596 kcal

Ingredients

Ingredients for fish:

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
freshly ground black pepper
1 whole branzino, large (1.8 lbs. approx.), cleaned
4 sprigs fresh thyme
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
Salt, to taste

Ingredients for Cabbage-Kale Salad:

1/2 head of green cabbage
8 kale leaves
1 yellow onion
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
Himalayan pink salt, to taste

Instructions

To prepare fish:
Combine the oil, one garlic, salt, and several grinds of black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside to infuse for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Wrap the tail of the fish in foil to keep it from burning. Season the fish lightly inside and out with salt and pepper. Stick thyme sprigs and one garlic in the cavity of the fish. Brush all over with the garlic oil and arrange the fish on a rimmed baking sheet.
Roast the fish for about 20 minutes. Remove the fish from the oven. Stir the lemon juice and parsley into the remaining garlic oil. Remove the foil from the fish and serve with the salad.
To prepare salad:
Dice cabbage and kale leaves. Add some salt and massage with hands.
Add diced onion. Add apple cider vinegar and the olive oil and massage again.
Add more salt if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 596kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 71gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 272mgSodium: 404mgPotassium: 2200mgFiber: 17gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 24034IUVitamin B12: 13µgVitamin C: 314mgVitamin E: 3mgVitamin K: 1192µgCalcium: 758mgIron: 9mgMagnesium: 252mgSelenium: 128µg

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