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Red Snapper is one of my favorite fish to eat. Of course, I love fish, who doesn’t? But I also love fishing. I love the idea of catching your fish and cooking it for dinner; it is both intriguing and scary. The only problem is most of the time I go fishing; it’s catch and release. And, if you catch to eat, cleaning a fish can be a daunting task. However, I am still intrigued by the idea of catching my own dinner.
Cooking a Whole Fish?
The first time I experienced this whole grilled fish concept was at Live Aqua Beach Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The chef, Jose, cooked a whole red snapper for us on the grill, and it was incredible. I watched him cook this, but as you know, it is different cooking it on your own. That said, I decided to try it.
Getting Started
The first thing I did, was buy a whole red snapper from our local Central Market, here in Dallas. I had the fish monger scale it, pack it in ice, and I headed home. Once home, I prepared the fish for cooking on the grill.
How to Prepare?
This process entailed rinsing it, patting it dry with paper towels, and cutting diagonal slits every 1 1/2 inches on both sides. Once that was completed, I seasoned the fish with salt inside and out; and added my special seasoning. I then let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
Get the Grill Ready
I prepared the grill by letting it get to 400 degrees and placed the fish directly on the grill. I cooked it for about 10-12 minutes. The best way to check it is if the fish lifts from the grill easily without sticking, that is a trick with all fish; it lets you know when it’s time to flip by not sticking. Flip it and cook another 10-12 minutes. Turn the grill off, and tent the fish with an aluminum pan for about 2 minutes; this helps to keep the moisture in.
Make Salsa and Plate it!
In the meantime, prepare your salsa; I used a mixture of mango, red onions, and canned rotel tomatoes. If you want more heat, you can add jalapeños or, you can use our Ultimate Chipotle Salsa Recipe.
To serve, place the fish on a plate, top with the salsa, and grab a fork and dig in. This is the perfect meal to share with your significant other with a glass of Justin Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.
Enjoy,
Todd
Grilled Whole Red Snapper
Ingredients
- 1 Whole Red Snapper
- Kosher Salt
- 1-2 tbsp Steak Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
Instructions
- Heat Grill to 400 degrees.
- Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels.
- Cut diagonal slits every 1 1/2 inches on each side. (until you hit the bones)
- Season inside and out with Kosher Salt.
- Let stand 20 minutes.
- Add Steak seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning.
- Place on grill; and cook for 10-12 minutes until fish lifts easily from grill.
- Flip fish and grill an additional 10-12 minutes.
- Turn off grill and tent with an aluminum pan for 2 minutes.
- Plate with salsa and lime.
Notes
