Snapper Baked with Tomatoes – Whole Fish Recipes

Snapper baked with the heads on is not something I would ever think my daughter would actually eat. She is not a big seafood fan, and certainly not with the eyeballs still attached. However, her friend made her this fabulous red snapper whole fish baked with onions and tomatoes and she was “hooked”.

Red snapper is a nice fish to introduce a non-seafood lover to. It is not especially “fishy” and it takes on other flavors well. This fish recipe in particular leaves the kitchen smelling like an italian bistro rather than a dock by the river.

Here is the recipe which would feed approximately 4 people.

3 lb red snapper whole, cleaned
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp “essence” – see below
1/2 tsp paprika
2 cups tomatoes
1 cup sliced onion
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tbsp garlic
1/4 cup parsley
2 tbs oregano
1 tbsp minced thyme

Heat oven to 375 F
Season clean, washed fish with olive oil, salt, essence
Combine oil, tomatoes, onions, wine, garlic, parsley, oregano, thyme, 1/2 tsp salt and essence
Place half of mixture on bottom of glass pan, then fish, then rest of mixture on top
Bake 40-50 minutes

“Essence” – 2 1/2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp salt, 2 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp cayenne, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp thyme

Here are a few other snapper baked recipes to enjoy.