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Easy Roasted Whole Red Snapper

A Mediterranean-style whole roasted red snapper with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs — simple, healthy, and full of bright flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

Fish
  • 1 whole red snapper cleaned and scaled (about 2–2.5 lbs)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.5 tsp paprika
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional
Aromatics
  • 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced
  • 0.5 lemon juiced
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 4 sprigs fresh parsley

Equipment

  • Baking sheet or roasting pan
  • Parchment paper or foil
  • Sharp knife
  • Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
  2. Pat the cleaned red snapper completely dry inside and out.
  3. Score the fish with 3–4 diagonal slashes on each side.
  4. Rub olive oil all over the fish and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes.
  5. Drizzle lemon juice inside the cavity and stuff with garlic, lemon slices, thyme, and parsley.
  6. Place fish on the baking sheet and roast 20–25 minutes until flesh is opaque and flakes easily.
  7. Rest for 5 minutes before serving with fresh lemon wedges.

Notes

Have your fishmonger clean and scale the fish for easier prep. Do not overcook to keep the flesh moist and tender.