Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Vegetables

Sea bass (or branzino) baked with vegetables is a delicious and relatively simple dish to prepare, perfect for a healthy and balanced meal.

Ingredients

• 1 sea bass (branzino) of about 400-600 g, gutted and scaled
• 2 medium potatoes
• 2 carrots
• 1 zucchini
• 1/2 onion
• 100 g cherry tomatoes
• A few sprigs of rosemary
• A few leaves of fresh basil or parsley
• 1 lemon
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).

2. Thoroughly wash the vegetables. Peel the potatoes and carrots and slice them into rounds. Cut the zucchini into rounds or half-moons, depending on the preferred thickness. Thinly slice half an onion. Cut the lemon into slices.

3. In a baking dish, spread a drizzle of oil and arrange the sliced onion as a base. Add the potatoes, carrots, and zucchini, season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and a drizzle of oil. Toss to coat evenly.

4. Place the sea bass on top of the vegetables in the dish. Make diagonal cuts on the back of the fish to allow for more even cooking.

5. Inside the fish, insert a few lemon slices and a sprig of rosemary. Season the fish with salt and pepper as well and drizzle with a little oil.

6. Add the cherry tomatoes around the fish in the dish. Distribute any remaining lemon slices and a few rosemary sprigs over the vegetables.

7. Bake the dish in the preheated oven for about 20-30 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through with crispy skin and the vegetables are tender.

8. Once cooked, remove the fish from the oven and garnish with fresh basil or parsley to taste.

Interesting Facts

Sea bass is a highly prized fish in Mediterranean cuisine for its delicate flavor and the texture of its flesh. It is well suited to oven baking because it retains its moisture and pairs beautifully with aromatic herbs like rosemary. Moreover, when cooked with the skin on, sea bass keeps all its internal juices, resulting in a more flavorful and succulent dish.