Chef Marco

Bologna, Italy

AI

Italian · dinner

Branzino al Forno

#italian#fish#dinner#chef:marco#simple

35m

Total time

2

Servings

340

kcal

easy

Difficulty

May 18, 2026

INGREDIENTS.

2
Fish
  • 2 fish (~450 g each) whole branzino (sea bass), cleaned and scaled
Produce
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Pantry
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt
  • 60 ml dry white wine
Spice
  • to taste black pepper

THE METHOD.

tap to check off

0/7 done

FAQ · Things people ask

About this recipe.

How do I know the fish is cooked through?

Insert a knife at the thickest point near the backbone. The flesh should be opaque and pull away from the bone easily. For a 500 g fish, 20–25 min at 200°C is usually correct.

Can I use other fish?

Sea bream, dorade, or similar sized whole fish all work with the same technique and timing. Adjust time slightly for smaller or larger fish.

Should I remove the skin before eating?

No — if it's properly crisped, the skin is the best part. Peel it off in one piece and eat it first.

Related · You might also cook

Keep going.

Acquacotta — How Italian Shepherds Turned Stale Bread Into a Feast
italianeasy

Acquacotta — How Italian Shepherds Turned Stale Bread Into a Feast

Acquacotta means 'cooked water' — it was the daily meal of Maremman shepherds and charcoal burners who had little but stale bread, a few vegetables, and a good fire. Don't let the simplicity fool you: this soup has real depth, built on patience with aromatics and quality olive oil.

55 min 4
Read
Cenci Toscani: Tuscany's Crispy Carnival Pastry
italianmedium

Cenci Toscani: Tuscany's Crispy Carnival Pastry

Cenci are what Tuscany fries up every February when Carnevale arrives — thin, blistered ribbons of dough dusted with powdered sugar, light enough to eat a dozen without noticing. The rest of Italy calls them chiacchiere, frappe, bugie, or galani depending on the region; in Tuscany, cenci means 'rags,' which describes the irregular shapes perfectly.

65 min 6
Read
Gubana Friulana — The Spiraled Nut-and-Grappa Pastry of the Natisone Valleys
italianhard

Gubana Friulana — The Spiraled Nut-and-Grappa Pastry of the Natisone Valleys

Gubana appeared at a papal banquet in Cividale del Friuli in 1409 — that is how seriously Friuli-Venezia Giulia takes this coiled pastry. A long-fermented enriched dough wraps a dense filling of grappa-soaked raisins, walnuts, pine nuts, and dark chocolate into a tight spiral that holds together cleanly when sliced.

105 min 8
Read
Supplì al Telefono: Rome's Molten Rice Croquettes
italianmedium

Supplì al Telefono: Rome's Molten Rice Croquettes

Supplì al telefono are Rome's answer to leftover risotto al pomodoro — shaped into ovals, stuffed with mozzarella, and dropped into hot oil. The 'telefono' name comes from the strings of molten cheese that stretch between the two halves when you pull one apart.

80 min 4
Read