Pesce all'isolana

The recipe for island-style fish is a flavorful dish typically prepared with pan-suitable fish such as gilt-head bream, sea bass, or saddled seabream, and is enriched with a delicious mix of vegetables. Here is how it is prepared.

Ingredients

• 1 kg of fish (gilt-head bream, sea bass, saddled seabream) gutted and scaled
• 2 medium potatoes
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Pitted black olives
• Salted capers
• Oregano
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Take the already cleaned, scaled, and gutted fish, and make a couple of incisions on the sides to ensure the heat penetrates well during cooking.
2. Thinly slice the onion and garlic, and cut the tomatoes and potatoes into not too thick rounds.
3. In a large baking dish, create a bed with the onion and garlic, then place the fish on top.
4. Around the fish, distribute the rounds of potatoes and tomatoes, then add the olives and capers rinsed from the salt.
5. Sprinkle everything generously with oregano, salt, and pepper, then drizzle with a generous swirl of extra virgin olive oil.
6. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 20-30 minutes.
7. Remove the aluminum foil and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes, until the potatoes are golden and the fish is well cooked.
8. Serve hot, and if you like, accompany with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley.

Curiosity

The name “all’isolana” comes from the fact that this dish is typical of the cuisine of the minor Italian islands, where fresh and local ingredients available are often used. Each island has its own small variations of this recipe, based on the local products.