Charred Branzino with Roasted Garlic and Herb Vinaigrette

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Whole branzino grilled until charred and tender, dressed with a bright roasted garlic and herb vinaigrette. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs whole branzino, olive oil, kosher salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 fish, about 1 lb each, cleaned and scaled whole branzino
• 4 tbsp, divided olive oil
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 6, unpeeled garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp, finely chopped fresh basil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp honey

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Rub 2 whole cleaned branzino inside and out with 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp kosher salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Wrap 6 unpeeled garlic cloves in foil and place on grill; roast for 15 minutes until soft and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Place branzino on the grill and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until skin is charred and fish flakes easily.
4. Step 4: Remove garlic from foil and squeeze soft garlic cloves into a bowl; mash with a fork and whisk in remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley, 1 tbsp finely chopped basil, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, and 1 tsp honey until emulsified.
5. Step 5: Plate the grilled branzino and drizzle the roasted garlic herb vinaigrette generously over the fish before serving.