Oven-baked sea bream with garlic, lemon and aromatic herbs — a classic Mediterranean recipe

Sea bream (dorade royale) is considered the king of Mediterranean fish — white, delicate meat with no small bones. Baked in the oven with garlic, lemon and aromatic herbs, it becomes an elegant dish prepared with very little effort.

INGREDIENTS (for 4 people):

• 2 medium sea bream (400–500 g each), cleaned
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon (half in slices, half juiced)
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 4–5 sprigs thyme or oregano
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup white wine (optional)
• fresh parsley for serving

PREPARATION STEPS:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Wash the sea bream, dry well with kitchen paper and make 2–3 light cuts on each side with a knife, so they bake evenly.
3. Rub the fish inside and out with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice.
4. Stuff the belly of each fish with lemon slices, garlic and the rosemary and thyme sprigs.
5. Place the fish in an oiled baking pan, pour the white wine around them and cover the pan with aluminum foil.
6. Bake for 20–25 minutes in the preheated oven.
7. Remove the aluminum foil and leave for another 8–10 minutes, until the skin turns golden.
8. Serve hot, with fresh olive oil on top, chopped parsley and lemon slices.

TIME: preparation about 15 minutes; baking about 30 minutes. SERVINGS: 4 people.

Tip: the sea bream is ready when the meat separates easily from the central bone with a fork.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)