Whole Fish Baked In Sea Salt
- 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 3-pound cleaned scaled whole fish (such as whitefish or salmon), fins removed
- 1 cup thinly sliced leek (white and pale green parts only)
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 26.5-ounce boxes coarse sea salt (6 cups)
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Lemon wedges
- Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 450u0b0F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with foil, leaving generous overhang. Combine first 3 ingredients in small skillet. Toast spices over medium heat until beginning to pop, stirring frequently, about 9 minutes. Cool spices. Coarsely crush in mortar with pestle or in heavy resealable plastic bag with mallet.
- Rinse fish inside and out; pat dry. Sprinkle all of spice mixture in fish cavity. Stuff with leek and lemon slices.
- Whisk egg whites and water in large bowl to blend. Add salt. Stir until salt is evenly moistened. Spread 2 cups salt mixture in 4-inch-wide, 12-inch-long strip (or use more to equal length of fish) on prepared sheet. Place fish on salt. Cover fish completely with remaining salt mixture, pressing to seal.
- Bake fish 25 minutes. Let stand in crust 10 minutes.
- Using large knife, rap crust sharply to crack. Brush salt from fish. Cut into portions and serve, passing extra-virgin olive oil and lemon wedges alongside.
coriander seeds, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, fish, lemon, egg whites, water, salt, extravirgin olive oil, lemon wedges
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/whole-fish-baked-in-sea-salt-241114 (may not work)