Lavraki Plaki (pronounced Lav-RHA-kee plah-KEE) (Dicentrarchus labrax), is a Greek recipe for Mediterranean sea bass baked in the oven.
In North America it is widely known by its Italian name branzino.
What does “Plaki” mean?
“Plaki” refers to a method of cooking, usually braising or baking and and may refer to several dishes that are cooked in a sauce, usually made of onions, garlic, tomatoes and olive oil.
Apart from the basic ingredients, I have also added some potatoes and carrots. If you like, you can also add some zucchini or eggplants and make a Briam, before adding the fish.
As potatoes and carrots, need much more time to cook than the fish, I cook them ahead and add the fish on top when the vegetables are almost cooked.
To reduce the time of cooking the vegetables, I cut them into very thin slices, about 1/2 cm thick. The carrots must be even thinner as they need more time to cook than the potatoes.
When baked the vegetables caramelize, making a delicious side dish.
If cooking the fish, using only the basic ingredients, you can cook the fish adding the onions, garlic and tomatoes simultaneously and in about half an hour your dinner is ready.
What other Fish can I use?
Cooking whole fish is one of my favorite ways to eat fish.
For this recipe I chose sea bass, but I’ve made this dish many times with other fish such as grouper, European hake (called cod in Greece), gilt head, sea bream, saddled sea bream, she drum, grey mullet, swordfish, fresh anchovies, garfish, etc..
Practically, you can use any whole fish or even bigger fish cut in slices, such as this swordfish plaki.
European Sea Bass (a.k.a. “Branzino”, “Loup de Mer” or “Bar”) was considered in Ancient Greece to be the smartest of all fish, as it was the most difficult to catch.
The time needed to bake the fish will depend on its type and size. A flat fish, for example, will need less time than a round fish. The biggest the fish is the more time is needed.
However, if you have a meat thermometre the ideal temperature is 55ºC – 60ºC .
By experience I can tell you that a fish around 1 kilo, needs about 30 – 35 minutes maximum, depending on your oven. Don’t cook it even a minute more as it dries very quickly.
You do not need to score the fish on top or brush it inside out with olive oil or fill its cavity with a ton of herbs.
Keep it simple. This way, it preserves the delicate flavor of sea bass.
I highly recommend you try this method.
As an extra bonus you will also have the side dish cooked along with the fish!
Lavraki Plaki (baked Branzino) on a Bed of Vegetables
Whole sea bass is roasted on a layer of potatoes, carrots, baby tomatoes, onions and garlic, which caramelize, making a lovely side dish as well
Ingredients
- 3 sea basses (branzino), about 350 - 400 grams each
- 2 dried onions, cut into thin slices
- 1 green onion (white and green part), cut into thin slices (optional)
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 kg potatoes, cut into very thin rings, about 1/2 cm
- 300 grams carrots, cut into very thin slices
- 200 grams (13 cherry tomatoes or other small tomatoes) cut in the middle
- 1 tbsp salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 tbsp oregano
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup water
For the fish:
- Salt, pepper and oregano (rosemary optional)
Instructions
- Ask your fish monger to gut and scale the fish (leaving heads on), and rinse well.
- Wash and pat dry Wrap them with cling film and refrigerate until ready to cook.
- Season inside out with salt, pepper and oregano.
- Add some rosemary in the cavity, if you prefer.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
- Peel and wash the vegetables
- Put all the vegetables in a large baking pan, approx. 30x35cm., and season with salt, pepper and oregano.
- Add the olive oil, lemon juice and water.
- Bake them for thirty minutes and toss them over Continue baking until the vegetables are almost tender, for about 15 more minutes.
- Add the fish on top and bake for 20 more minutes.
- Remove the head and bones and drizzle some ladolemono on top
- Serve with the vegetables.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 646Total Fat 30gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 24gCholesterol 40mgSodium 2034mgCarbohydrates 67gFiber 10gSugar 8gProtein 26g
More "Plaki' Recipes
Plaki refers to the method of cooking certain foods, usually with onions, garlic, tomatoes and olive oil
Gigantes plaki is a deliciously hearty vegetarian dish made with giant beans, cooked in a tomato sauce.
Gavros Plaki (baked anchovies) is a healthy and delicious dish which is also relatively cheap and that is why it is called "fish of the poor".
Milokopi or mylokopi (Shi Drum - Umbrina cirrosa), is a delicious Mediterranean fish recipe baked with some vegetables on the side.
Fish Recipes
Fish is an important part of Greek cuisine and the Mediterranean Diet. Here are a few ideas how to cook them.
Lavraki Psito (pr. Lah-VRAH-ki psee-TOH) is grilled sea bass. Greek fresh fish is so delicious that actually we just add a few ingredients, such as salt, pepper and oregano before grilling it.  We then serve it with some ladolemono on top.
Mpamies me Mpakaliaro is Greek stewed okra dish cooked on the stove top until tender and then the fish is cooked in the stew.
Gavros Plaki (baked anchovies) is a healthy and delicious dish which is also relatively cheap and that is why it is called "fish of the poor".
Bakaliaros (cod), in Greek "μπακαλιάρOÏ‚", is the traditional food we eat in Greece on the 25th of March, which is made with salted cod, fried in a beer batter.
Milokopi or mylokopi (Shi Drum -Â Umbrina cirrosa), is a delicious Mediterranean fish recipe which I made having Briam in mind. Â Â This way you have your baked fish with some vegetables on the side.
A healthy Mediterranean Salad with Tuna and lots of vegetables which is Mayonnaise free made with an olive oil dressing, which is full of flavour.
Red mullet (Mullus barbatus) "Barbounia" (Baar - BOO -nya) in Greek and their cousins, surmullets (Mullus surmuletus) “koutsomoures†in Greek, are a species of goatfish, found in the Mediterranean Sea and are considered the most delicious of smaller type of fish.
A great way to cook large anchovies is to stuff them with tomatoes and herbs. You will be amazed how wonderful they taste!
A risotto made with fresh anchovies inspired by the Greek Pontian dish called Hapsopilafo.
Grilled sardines are a common menu item at many Greek restaurants, called "tsipourakika", served as an appetizer.
We really love salmon and find that Lime, Dill and Garlic pair great together. Combined with the orange-garlic honey sautéed spinach makes a very healthy combination.Â
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