Whole sea bream en papillote
A beautiful Mediterranean centrepiece featuring three whole sea bream gently baked en papillote with lemon, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Cooking in parchment locks in moisture and delicate flavour, creating perfectly tender fish with fragrant herbs and citrus.
Ingredients
- 3 whole sea bream (approximately 500-700g each), cleaned and scaled
- 2 lemons, thinly sliced
- 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme
- Large handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 150ml dry white wine (optional)
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Baking parchment
To serve
- Buttered new potatoes
- Seasonal green vegetables or asparagus
- Mixed leaf salad
- Warm crusty bread
- Lemon wedges
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).
- Season each sea bream inside and out with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Fill each cavity with garlic, rosemary, thyme, parsley and several lemon slices.
- Place each fish onto a large sheet of baking parchment. Add the remaining lemon slices underneath and over the fish.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil and pour a splash of white wine over each fish, if using.
- Fold and seal each parchment parcel tightly, leaving enough room for steam to circulate.
- Place the parcels on baking trays and bake for 22 to 28 minutes, depending on the size of the fish.
- Carefully open each parcel just before serving to release the fragrant steam.
Chef's tip
Add thinly sliced fennel, cherry tomatoes or black olives inside the parcel for extra Mediterranean flavour. Finish with a drizzle of premium extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon before serving.
Wine pairing
Pair with a chilled Albarino, Picpoul de Pinet, Vermentino or Sauvignon Blanc for a fresh, elegant accompaniment.
From The Sea tip: cooking whole sea bream on the bone keeps the flesh exceptionally moist and intensifies its natural sweetness. The parchment captures every drop of flavour, creating a beautifully aromatic dish that's perfect for sharing with family and friends. Ask the counter to clean and scale your bream, free.
Shop this recipe
Whole fish for the parcel: wild sea bream or farmed sea bream, both cleaned and scaled at the counter. More on choosing and cooking the species in our sea bream guide.
