15-Minute Broiled Whole Fish (Iraqi-Style Spice Paste)
This whole butterflied Pompano fish is slathered with an Iraqi-style spice paste that's tangy, sweet and full of umami. A quick broil is all that's needed and this dish is ready and quite addictive!
Ingredients
- 5.5 lbs Whole Pompano, butterflied (1 fish per person, see notes)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 yellow onion, optional
- 2 bell peppers, optional
For the Spice Paste:
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Rinse the fish under cold water, then pat dry very well on all sides using a paper towel. This recipe requires the fishmonger to butterfly the fish and clean it for you.
- Slice the onion and bell pepper (if using) into thin rounds. Preheat the oven on the broiler setting at 550F (or as high as your oven will go).
- Line a full sheet pan with parchment paper (or work in batches using two sheet pans since this recipe requires the fish to lay flat) and add the onions and peppers around the outside. Lay the fish on top and season with the salt and pepper.
- Place the sheet pan on the middle rack and broil for 10 to 12 minutes, just until the fish is starting to bubble and brown.
- Prepare the spice paste by mixing together the tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, and salt. Use a few tablespoons of water to thin it out slightly into a paste.
- Brush the paste all over the broiled fish, covering the surface evenly. Return back to the broiler and continue to broil for another 5 to 6 minutes until the surface turns a dark brown. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- I've specified 1 whole fish per person, and each fish is typically 1-1.5 lbs in weight. If you have a larger fish, it can probably serve 2. But it's hard to share a whole fish, so this amount will be plenty for everyone with possibly leftovers.
- I've noted down other types of fish varieties that will work with this recipe in the post (Branzino, Red Snapper, Whole Trout)
- Make sure you don't place the fish too close to the broiler or it will burn before cooking through.
Serving: 1Serving, Calories: 686kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 126g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 312mg, Sodium: 1060mg, Potassium: 2060mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 1876IU, Vitamin C: 78mg, Calcium: 75mg, Iron: 4mg
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