Redfish on the Half Shell

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Donald Link suggests grilling or roasting this fish, then serving it in its hardened skin ("on the half shell"). You can also use a large, flexible spatula to slide the fillets off the skin and onto a platter, discarding the skin, for a more elegant presentation. Redfish — a white-fleshed fish with big scales that are hard to remove — is an ideal choice, and striped bass is great, too. You'll have to buy the fish directly from a fishmonger; ask them to leave the scales on the fillets.

Redfish on the Half Shell
Photo: © Quentin Bacon
Total Time:
25 mins
Yield:
6 servings
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for greasing the pan

  • 2 redfish or striped bass fillets, with scales still on and pin bones removed (about 2 1/2 pounds)

  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 475°F. Lightly oil a large rimmed baking sheet. Lay the redfish fillets, skin side down, on the baking sheet and brush them with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle with the crushed red pepper and season with salt and pepper. Roast the redfish fillets on the bottom rack of the oven for about 20 minutes, or until the flesh flakes with a fork.

  2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the parsley and garlic with the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the fish to a platter, drizzle with the parsley-garlic oil, and serve with lemon wedges.

Suggested Pairing

These oven-roasted fish fillets with Provençal notes would be delicious with a citrusy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Originally appeared: January 2007

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