Salt And Herb Roasted Whole Fish

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 lemons, 1 zested and juiced and one sliced into thin rounds
• 1 bunch thyme, half picked and half left whole
• 4 bay leaves, fresh and coarsely snipped
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 9 egg whites
• 8 cups kosher salt
• 2 fish, 1 pound whole, with fins and gills removed
• 1/4 cup olive oil, for finishing

Recipe

• 1 in food processor, combine lemon zest and juice, picked thyme, bay leaves and garlic and pulse until a coarse paste.
• 2 add egg whites and puree until frothy and foamy.
• 3 in large bowl combine herb-egg mixture with salt and mix until a moist paste.
• 4 place half of lemon slices and whole thyme in cavity of each fish.
• 5 on a baking sheet, place a little less than half of salt mixture in two rows.
• 6 lay fish on top of each.
• 7 pack remaining salt mixture around fish to encase them, pressing mixture firmly on fish to create crust.
• 8 roast fish at 450 for 25 minutes. remove and let rest for 10 minutes.
• 9 crack open salt crust and brush excess salt from fish.
• 10 remove top fillet, pull the spine out and remove the bottom fillet.
• 11 drizzle with olive oil and serve.