Black Sea Bass on the BBQ

My mom cooking fish came back to me. She spent hours in the kitchen. It wasn’t because she took a long time, but because of the side dishes that were served with the fish. They were fried and stuffed with chopped tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, garlic, and jalapeno if she made small fish. 

We would eat fried potatoes, cauliflower, and eggplant as the side dishes. These were the standard, must-have dishes. Sometimes I crave fried foods, but I mainly try to roast the vegetables in the oven, so they are healthier and have less oil. As for salad side dishes, my mom made parsley with tahini sauce, Bagdonas bi al tahini, and Salata Arabia.

I got a couple of freshly cleaned black snappers from the market to make this recipe. I decided to grill them on the bbq, and instead of stuffing them, I made the stuffing like my mom used to and then served it on top of the fish after it was done cooking. The final result was divine.

I grilled some eggplant on the side, served it over yogurt, and topped it with a garlicky, lemony sauce. (Link) The best part of making this recipe is that we could enjoy a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen. The entire meal only took 30 minutes to put together!

What is Black Sea Bass? 

Black sea bass is one of the most popular fish to buy from the market. Black sea bass is a white flesh fish that is relatively lean, firm, and meaty. The white flesh is delicate and mild in flavor. Black sea bass can be cooked in several ways, including pan frying, steaming, grilling, or baking. Since black sea bass is not a fatty fish, it is essential to be sure you don’t overcook black sea bass. If you can’t find black sea bass, people also substitute it with red snapper or grouper. 

How to Prepare the Fish?

To get the fish ready, I would give it a quick wash with cold water and salt. Then I would cut off the fins and rub some olive oil all over the fish. This is an essential step since the olive oil will prevent the fish from sticking to the grill. Once they are oiled, stuff them with lemon slices.

What Temperature Should You Cook Black Sea Bass to?

Black sea bass should be cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees. Once it has reached the temperature, remove it from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes. As it rests, the temperature will go up a few degrees and cook the fish even more. 

Other Ways to Cook, The Fish 

I love to make this recipe on the grill since it is super easy and involves minimal clean-up. All you need to do is scrub the grills with a grill brush. You could also cook the fish in the oven if you don’t want to start your bbq. You can also make the fish on a stove with a large, flat cast iron pan.