Skip to main content
Epicurious
Bon Appétit

Grilled Branzino With Cilantro-Mint Relish

By Dawn Perry

5.0

(19)

Image may contain Animal Fish Herring Sea Life Sardine and Bird
Photo by Gentl & Hyers

Grilling whole fish is not as tricky as it sounds. We tie ours with kitchen twine, which makes them easy to handle.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1/4 small white onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon grated peeled ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh mint plus 4 sprigs for stuffing
2 red chiles (such as Fresno or serrano), with seeds, thinly sliced, divided
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Kosher salt
2 whole branzino or small red snapper, cleaned
1 lime, thinly sliced

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Mix onion, cilantro, lime juice, ginger, sugar, chopped mint, half of chiles, and 1/3 cup oil in a medium bowl; season with salt. Set relish aside.

    Step 2

    Season inside of fish with salt. Stuff with mint sprigs, lime slices, and remaining chiles; tie with kitchen twine. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt. Grill fish until skin is crisp and flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone, about 5 minutes per side. (If a small knife slides easily through the thickest part of flesh, the fish is done.) Serve with relish.

    Step 3

    DO AHEAD: Fish can be stuffed and tied and relish can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.

TagsBranzinoFishSeafoodCilantroHerbs & SpicesChileVegetableMainDinnerDairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreeMake AheadGrillingBon Appétit

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App This Week
Like potato pea chowder and green goddess grain bowls.
Gingery Pork and Sugar Snap Pea Stir-Fry
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
The Only Frittata Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Caramelized Onion Pasta
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Kimchi Tuna Melts
Chopped kimchi and soy sauce transform mellow tuna salad into your new favorite riff on the classic diner sandwich.
Broken Lasagna Noodle Soup With Spinach
This lasagna soup delivers rich, baked-pasta flavor without an oven. Made with Italian sausage and spinach, it’s a fast, weeknight-friendly take on the classic.
13 Types of Nuts and How to Cook With Them
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
How to Thaw Fish Fast
The most efficient method takes less than an hour, but you might not even need it.