Steamed Caribbean Fish with Citrus and Scotch Bonnet
A vibrant, aromatic steamed fish dish featuring fresh citrus and fiery Scotch bonnet peppers, delivering authentic Caribbean flavors that brighten the palate. This Caribbean-inspired seafood recipe (gluten free), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs whole snapper fish, lime juice, orange juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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
- 1.5 pounds, cleaned and scaled whole snapper fish
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 small, finely chopped Scotch bonnet pepper
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 stalks, sliced scallions
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup water
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse and pat dry 1.5 pounds of whole snapper fish, then score both sides with shallow cuts. Rub 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly over the fish.
- Step 2: In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 small finely chopped Scotch bonnet pepper, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp olive oil, and 3 sliced scallions. Pour this marinade over the fish, making sure to coat inside the scored cuts and cavity. Let marinate for 20 minutes.
- Step 3: Place 2 sprigs fresh thyme inside the fish cavity. Set a steamer basket over 1 cup boiling water in a large pot, place the marinated fish inside the basket, cover, and steam over medium heat for 15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Step 4: Carefully transfer the fish to a serving platter, spoon over any remaining cooking juices, and garnish with extra scallions if desired.







