Home Recipe Collections

32 whole fish recipes for fish lovers

Fillets are fine, but the joys of a whole fish, bones and all, are unparalleled. Here are Gourmet Traveller's best whole fish recipes for summer.
A baked trout on a pink oval platter, garnished with roasted onions

Coral trout with saffron and Sherry-roasted onions

Alicia Taylor

Fillets are fine, but the joys of a whole fish, bones and all, are unparalleled. Barbecued barramundi, steamed snapper, poached Murray cod – from head to tail, we have all the whole fish recipes you need.

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Tedesca Osteria’s whole snapper with orange and pistachio sauce

A whole steamed snapper on a black plate, garnished with sliced limes, crushed chillies and coriander sprigs.
Photo: Elise Hassey

Amy Chanta and Palisa Anderson’s bpla neung manow (steamed fish with spicy chilli and lime dressing)

Photo: John Paul Urizar

Sand whiting with caper and parsley butter

Photo: Con Poulos

Giovanni Pilu’s trout with white wine and rosemary

A baked trout on a pink oval platter, garnished with roasted onions
Photo: Alicia Taylor

Coral trout with saffron and Sherry-roasted onions

Whole fish with sour-orange glaze
Photo: Kara Rosenlund

La Casita’s whole barbecued fish with sour-orange glaze

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Barbecued barramundi with macadamia romesco

Snapper and clams en papillote with tarragon beurre blanc
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Snapper and clams en papillote with tarragon beurre blanc

Teochew steamed fish
Photo: Chris Chen

Teochew steamed fish

Paul Carmichael's creole fish
Photo: Prue Ruscoe

Paul Carmichael’s Creole fish

Garfish with sauce chien and habanero
Photo: Mark Roper

Bar Rochford’s garfish with sauce chien and habanero

Photo: John Paul Urizar

Ricky & Pinky’s steamed snapper with coriander and ginger

Whiting with seaweed butter
Photo: Mark Roper

The Summertown Aristologists’s whiting with seaweed butter

Flounder with cultured butter and lemon leaves
Photo: William Meppem

David Moyle’s flounder with cultured butter and lemon leaves

Roasted gurnard with smoky eggplant, farro and boiled lemon
Photo: Prue Ruscoe

Roasted gurnard with smoky eggplant, farro and boiled lemon

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Jerk snapper with pineapple and lime

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Luke Burgess’s flounder fried in fubá with finger lime and young ginger

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Baked golden trout with roe

PHoto: William Meppem

Rainbow trout with almonds, bacon and green beans

John Dory with herb butter
Photo: Mark Roper

David Moyle’s John Dory with herb butter

Poached Murray cod with dill
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Sean Moran’s poached Murray cod with dill

Barbecued snapper in banana leaves with sambal belacan
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Barbecued snapper in banana leaves with sambal belacan

Whole barbecued fish with chilli and peach salsa
Photo: Chris Chen

Whole barbecued fish with chilli and peach salsa

Barbecued lemongrass snapper with pomelo and herb salad
Photo: William Meppem

Barbecued lemongrass snapper with pomelo and herb salad

Peas and shallots in smoked pork broth
Photo: William Meppem

Whole snapper with peperonata

Snapper with white wine, green olives and parsley (dentice alla vernaccia)
Photo: Anson Smart

Giovanni Pilu’s snapper with white wine, green olives and parsley (Dentice alla vernaccia)

Photo: William Meppem

Frank Camorra’s marinated whole snapper baked on potatoes and peppers (Dorada al fondo con patatas)

Whole roasted fish with potatoes
Photo: William Meppem

River Cafe’s whole roasted fish with potatoes (Pesce intero al forno)

Whole barbecued fish with lemon
Photo: William Meppem

Whole barbecued fish with lemon

Whole snapper roasted with curry flavours
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Whole snapper roasted with curry flavours

Photo: William Meppem

Barbecued whole fish with lemongrass and lime leaves

Whole barbecued snapper with green papaya salad
Photo: Chris Chen

Liberté’s whole barbecued snapper with green papaya salad

Related stories