Psari Plaki
Greek Baked Fish
A classic Greek dish where a whole fish is baked on a bed of tomatoes, onions, and herbs, creating a flavorful and tender meal. Simple yet elegant, perfect for any occasion.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Whole white fish (e.g., sea bream, sea bass, snapper)(Cleaned and scaled, about 1-1.2 kg total weight.)
- 400 g Ripe tomatoes(About 3-4 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped.)
- 2 Yellow onions(Medium-sized, thinly sliced.)
- 4 Garlic cloves(Minced or thinly sliced.)
- 0.5 cup Fresh parsley(Chopped, divided.)
- 80 ml Extra virgin olive oil(For drizzling and sautéing (optional).)
- 1 Lemon(Juiced, plus extra slices for garnish if desired.)
- Salt(To taste.)
- Black pepper(Freshly ground, to taste.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fish. In the bottom of the dish, create a bed by layering the thinly sliced onions and chopped tomatoes. Season this vegetable base with a pinch of salt and pepper.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Pat the whole fish dry inside and out with paper towels. Make a few shallow scores on both sides of the fish with a sharp knife; this helps it cook evenly and absorb flavors. Season the cavity and the scores generously with salt and pepper. Place the prepared fish on top of the onion and tomato bed.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Scatter the minced garlic and about half of the chopped parsley over and inside the fish. Drizzle generously with the extra virgin olive oil and the fresh lemon juice. Ensure the oil and lemon juice coat the fish and vegetables.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 4
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes. The fish is done when the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, and the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your fish.
⏱️ 40-50 minutes - 5
Remove the dish from the oven. Garnish with the remaining fresh parsley. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving directly from the baking dish, spooning some of the flavorful juices over the fish.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓'Plaki' refers to a dish baked on a bed of vegetables, a common and delicious Greek cooking method.
- ✓This simple Greek technique highlights the natural flavors of fresh fish and vegetables.
- ✓Use any firm, white-fleshed fish like sea bream (tsipoura), sea bass (lavraki), or snapper. Ensure it's cleaned and scaled.
- ✓For extra flavor, you can add a splash of white wine to the vegetable bed before baking.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add thinly sliced potatoes to the vegetable bed in step 1 for a heartier meal.
- Incorporate other herbs like dill or oregano along with the parsley.
- Add a few capers or olives to the vegetable mixture for a briny kick.