Roasted Sea Bass Provencal

58 Roasted Sea Bass Provencal
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  • Yield: 4 servings

I use black bass or snapper in season, but any beautiful large whole white-fleshed fish will work perfectly for this roast. I love the presentation of serving the whole fish family-style right from the pan, and I especially enjoy the ceremony of spooning the fish and vegetables onto each plate with plenty of delicious pan sauce. — John Besh

Ingredients

1large (3–4-pound) whole sea bass, scaled and gutted
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4cloves garlic, smashed
1 shallot, sliced
Generous pinch crushed red pepper flakes
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 orange, sliced
3tablespoons olive oil
1small fennel bulb, chopped
1pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2small red and yellow bell peppers, sliced
1/2cup pitted olives, black or green
1cup white wine
4tablespoons butter
2 green onions, chopped
Leaves from 2 sprigs fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450F. Score the fish and season inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff with garlic, shallot, red pepper, thyme, and orange slices. Place the fish in a roasting pan or paella pan with the olive oil and scatter fennel, tomatoes, peppers, and olives all around. Add wine.
  2. Roast until fish is white and flaky and tomatoes are beautifully charred, about 20 minutes.
  3. Stir butter into the pan and toss with the tomatoes. Sprinkle the bass with green onions and basil and serve from the pan with the tomato and olive pan sauce.

Recipe from Cooking from the Heart: My Favorite Lessons Learned Along the Way by John Besh (Andrews McMeel Publishing)