Dinner: Whole Snapper

Recipe by Kris Wessel Chef Kris Wessel of Florida Cookery in Miami Beach, Florida, shared this recipe as part of a Palm Tree Christmas menu he created exclusively for Epicurious. Look for firm fish with bright eyes and red gills, Wessel says. It should s

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Whole Snapper

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2 Spanish onions, peeled and thinly sliced
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped, plus 4 cloves whole garlic, peeled
1 cup dry white wine
2 bay leaves
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Juice of 2 lemons
2 (4-pound) whole red snappers, cleaned, with head and tail intact
1 small tomato, sliced
2 ribs celery, halved crosswise
Juice of 10 Key limes or small thin-skinned limes, plus 4 limes cut into quarters for serving
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
Special equipment: 1 (12- by 18-inch or larger) roasting pan

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
In a large sauté pan over moderate heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup wine and the bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering until the onions are tender and the wine is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the butter then remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the lemon juice.
Arrange the snappers, side by side, in a 12- by 18-inch or larger roasting pan. Stuff the cavity of each fish with about 1/4 cup of the onion mixture, along with the whole garlic, tomato slices, and celery. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the remaining onion mixture over the fish then pour half the lime juice on and around the fish and add 2 cups of water to the pan. Wrap the pan snugly with foil and roast for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue roasting until the fish is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove any onion from the top of the fish then carefully transfer the fish to a large serving platter (do not discard the onion or juices remaining in the pan). Drizzle the remaining lime juice over the fish and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
Scrape the onion and juices from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan. Add the remaining 1/4 cup white wine and 1/4 cup water, and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering until slightly reduced, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer.