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WHOLE DORADA BAKED QUICKLY WITH VEGETABLE SAUCE – EASY & FLAVORFUL

By Delicious Recipes!Posted on
WHOLE DORADA BAKED QUICKLY WITH VEGETABLE SAUCE – EASY & FLAVORFUL

WHOLE DORADA BAKED QUICKLY WITH VEGETABLE SAUCE – EASY & FLAVORFUL

A whole dorada cooked rapidly in a hot oven with an included vegetable sauce, making a simple yet elegant dish perfect for two.

🕒 Prep Time: 10 min

🍳 Cook Time: 20 min
🍽️ Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 1 medium dorada (~500 g cleaned)
  • 2 medium onions (~200 g total), thinly sliced
  • 1 medium tomato (~150 g), halved and sliced
  • 1/2 bunch fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp finely chopped fresh fennel leaves
  • 1/8 tsp fennel seeds
  • 5 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sherry vinegar (or rice vinegar)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Clean and pat dry the dorada with paper towels. Make 3-4 diagonal cuts on one side of the fish.
  2. Generously salt the fish on all sides, including inside the cuts and cavity.
  3. Place tomato slices along the cuts of the fish from head to tail, lightly salting the tomatoes.
  4. Toss sliced onions with salt and gently massage until softened slightly.
  5. Heat 2-3 tbsp olive oil in a pan. Sauté onions for about 5 minutes until soft, seasoning with black pepper and fennel seeds near the end. Stir in chopped parsley and fennel leaves, mixing well.
  6. Ideally, use an oven-safe skillet large enough for the fish (about 28 cm diameter). If not, transfer onions to an ovenproof dish.
  7. Arrange onions in the center to form a bed for the fish. Place tomato slices on top of the onions.
  8. Lay the dorada over the tomatoes. Gather more onions around and under the fish. Drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil over the fish.
  9. Pour 3 tbsp water around the edges of the pan.
  10. Bake in a preheated oven at 250°C (480°F) for 20 minutes.
  11. Check fish doneness. If onions and tomatoes on top aren’t nicely browned, use the grill (broil) function for a few minutes—watch carefully to prevent burning.
  12. Remove fish from oven onto a serving platter.
  13. Pour vinegar into the pan and shake to mix into the sauce.
  14. Spoon vegetables and sauce beside and over the fish. Remove any burnt onion tips if present.
  15. Serve immediately with a side such as soft polenta.

Tip: After deboning (removing head, tail, spine), place vegetables inside the fish “book” for easy packing and enjoy even at room temperature.

💡 Tips

  • High oven temperature cooks fish quickly and seals in juices.
  • Using fennel seeds and fresh leaves adds a subtle anise flavor complementing the fish.
  • Careful broiling at the end creates appealing color without drying out.

🍽️ Perfect For

  • Quick, elegant seafood dinners
  • Healthy one-pan meals
  • Romantic or casual home dining

📝 Final Thoughts

This whole dorada with vegetable sauce is a flavorful, fuss-free dish that’s impressive on the table yet simple to prepare. Its juicy, tender fish paired with aromatic vegetables and a tangy dressing makes it a true delight.