Ingredients

  • 1 (3 to 4 pound) whole yellow tail snapper, scaled and cleaned
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 lemons, sliced thin
  • 2 shallots, sliced thin
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 3 tablespoons thyme leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for oiling baking sheet
  • 4 egg whites, room temperature
  • 1 cup kosher salt

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Rinse the fish and pat dry; season it inside and out with salt and pepper.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the lemon, shallot, parsley, 2 tablespoons thyme, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, and 1/4-cup olive oil.
  • Place the fish on an oiled baking sheet and stuff the cavity with the lemon mixture.
  • In a clean mixing bowl, whip the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
  • Fold in the salt to make a paste then fold in the remaining thyme leaves.
  • Smear the salt paste over the entire fish and roast for 35 to 45 minutes.
  • The egg whites will form a hard crust.
  • Gently crack the shell with a spoon and lift off the salt crust.
  • Serve.