Whole Sea Bass on the BBQ – Simple Outdoor Recipe
🐟 Whole Sea Bass on the BBQ – Simple Outdoor Recipe
Cooking a whole fish outdoors is one of the simplest ways to create a fresh, impressive meal. The gentle heat of a BBQ or plancha brings out the delicate flavour of sea bass while crisping the skin beautifully. It's a fantastic recipe for summer lunches, relaxed dinners or entertaining friends in the garden.
A whole sea bass requires very little preparation, and with a few simple techniques you'll achieve moist, flaky fish with perfectly crisp skin. Scoring the fish before cooking allows the seasoning to penetrate and helps it cook evenly from head to tail.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2)
- 2 whole sea bass (about 400–500g each), cleaned and gutted
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- A handful of fresh parsley
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme (optional)
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
To serve
- Extra lemon wedges
- Mixed salad
- New potatoes or grilled vegetables
🧑🍳 Method
- Prepare the fish. Pat the sea bass dry with kitchen paper. Using a sharp knife, make 3–4 shallow diagonal scores on each side of the fish.
- Season well. Rub the fish inside and out with olive oil, then season generously with sea salt and black pepper. Place slices of garlic, lemon and parsley inside the cavity, along with thyme if using.
- Preheat the BBQ or plancha. Heat the cooking surface over medium-high heat until hot. Lightly oil the grill or plancha to help prevent sticking.
- Cook the first side. Place the fish onto the hot cooking surface and cook for 5–6 minutes without moving it, allowing the skin to become crisp.
- Turn carefully. Using a fish slice or two spatulas, gently turn the fish over and cook for another 5–6 minutes.
- Check it's cooked through. The flesh should be opaque and flake easily with a fork. The thickest part near the backbone should no longer look translucent. If needed, cook for an additional 1–2 minutes.
- Serve immediately. Transfer to a serving platter and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve alongside grilled vegetables, salad or buttery new potatoes.
💡 Tips for Perfect BBQ Sea Bass
- Dry the fish well before cooking to help the skin crisp up.
- Scoring the fish allows even cooking and better flavour.
- Avoid moving the fish too early, as this can cause the skin to stick.
- Use a fish slice or two spatulas when turning for extra support.
🔥 Recommended BBQs & Planchas
➡️ The BonFeu BonBiza Open BBQ Plancha Black (£854) offers even heat distribution that's ideal for cooking delicate seafood with beautifully crisp skin:
https://salsplace.co.uk/products/bonfeu-bonbiza-open-bbq-plancha-black
➡️ For the ultimate outdoor cooking experience, the BonFeu BonBiza Island BBQ Plancha 80cm (£1,495) combines a spacious plancha with a practical preparation table, making it perfect for entertaining:
https://salsplace.co.uk/products/bonfeu-bonbiza-island-bbq-plancha-80cm-with-table
➡️ Browse the complete collection of BBQs and planchas here:
https://salsplace.co.uk/collections/buy-bonfeu-firebowl-bbq-planchas-at-sals-place
