This Citrus Roasted Snapper with Fennel is a fresh and flavorful Mediterranean-inspired seafood dish featuring tender, flaky snapper roasted over sweet fennel, juicy cherry tomatoes, red onion, and bright orange.
As the fish roasts, the vegetables soften and absorb the citrusy pan juices, while garlic, fennel seeds, and orange zest give the snapper an aromatic, savory flavor. The result is an elegant fish dinner that’s surprisingly simple to prepare at home.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 2
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Snapper is naturally mild and slightly sweet, making it perfect for pairing with citrus and fennel. Roasting the fish skin-side up helps protect the delicate flesh while creating a beautiful presentation.
The combination of orange, fennel, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs makes this dish light enough for a healthy weeknight dinner but impressive enough to serve to guests.
Ingredients
- 2 skin-on snapper fillets, about 180 g each
- 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 200 g cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 60 ml dry white wine or fish stock
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Fresh fennel fronds, for garnish
How to Make Citrus Roasted Snapper with Fennel
- Preheat the oven.
Heat the oven to 210°C (410°F). Pat the snapper fillets dry with paper towels and make two shallow cuts through the skin of each fillet. - Season the snapper.
Combine the grated garlic, crushed fennel seeds, orange zest, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Rub the mixture over the fish, then drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. - Prepare the vegetables.
Arrange the sliced fennel, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and orange slices evenly in a baking dish. - Add the citrus sauce.
Pour in the white wine or fish stock and fresh orange juice. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and season with the remaining salt. - Add the fish.
Place the seasoned snapper fillets over the vegetables with the skin side facing up. - Roast.
Bake for approximately 16–20 minutes, or until the snapper is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. - Rest.
Remove the fish from the oven and let it rest for about 3 minutes while the vegetables remain warm in the baking dish. - Serve.
Arrange the roasted vegetables on plates and place the snapper on top. Spoon the warm citrus pan juices over the fish. - Garnish.
Finish with chopped parsley and fresh fennel fronds before serving.
Tips for Perfect Roasted Snapper
Avoid overcooking the snapper. The flesh should be moist and separate easily into tender flakes when tested with a fork.
Cutting shallow slashes into the skin can help prevent the fillet from curling during cooking. Keeping the skin facing upward also prevents it from sitting directly in the cooking liquid.
If your fillets are particularly thick, they may require a few additional minutes in the oven.
What to Serve with Citrus Roasted Snapper
This roasted snapper is delicious with couscous, steamed rice, roasted potatoes, quinoa, or warm crusty bread. The bread is especially useful for soaking up the citrusy pan juices.
For a lighter meal, pair it with a simple green salad or roasted Mediterranean vegetables.
Can I Make It Without Wine?
Yes. Simply replace the dry white wine with the same amount of fish stock or vegetable stock. You’ll still get a flavorful sauce from the orange juice, vegetables, herbs, and natural juices released by the fish.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover snapper and vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat gently until just warmed through. Fish can dry out quickly when reheated, so avoid cooking it for longer than necessary.
Recipe Summary
Citrus Roasted Snapper with Fennel combines flaky roasted fish with sweet fennel, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh orange, garlic, and aromatic herbs. It’s a colorful and elegant seafood dinner that can be ready in around 35 minutes.
SEO Title
Citrus Roasted Snapper with Fennel – Easy Oven-Baked Fish Recipe
Meta Description
Citrus Roasted Snapper with Fennel is an easy oven-baked fish recipe with cherry tomatoes, orange, garlic, fennel and fresh herbs. A flavorful Mediterranean-inspired dinner ready in about 35 minutes.
URL Slug
citrus-roasted-snapper-with-fennel
Keywords
Citrus Roasted Snapper, roasted snapper recipe, snapper with fennel, baked snapper, orange roasted fish, Mediterranean fish recipe, healthy seafood dinner, oven roasted snapper.