What Is Branzino and How Do You Cook It?
Updated: Dec. 13, 2023
This flaky, mild-tasting ocean fish is taking over restaurant menus and upscale seafood counters. It's worth making at home—here's how to buy, cook and store branzino.
Seafood fans have probably seen a new fish popping up on restaurant menus lately: branzino. Often served whole with a dramatic presentation, the fish may seem restaurant-level fancy, but it’s a winning seafood to make at home too. What is branzino, exactly? Here’s our guide to the tasty fish, including how to shop for it, cook it and ideas for substitutes.
What is branzino?
Branzino is a type of sea bass, commonly found around western and southern Europe, as well as in waters north of Africa. Not surprisingly, the mild white fish is a staple of Mediterranean cuisine.
What does branzino taste like?
Branzino is a very mild, almost sweet white fish. It has an exceptional texture, being both firm and lean. Cooked properly, it is flaky and meltingly tender. Like most seafood options, branzino is rich in omega-3s and protein.
Substitutes for Branzino
Branzino is a high-quality fish, making it both an excellent choice and an expensive one. If home cooks can’t find branzino (or want a cheaper alternative), look for a similar mild, flaky white fish. Many types of fish make fine substitutes for branzino, including black sea bass, flounder, sole, tilapia and cod.
How to Cook Branzino
Don’t be afraid to cook fish at home—fish recipes are often easy and quick to make!
Branzino is often cooked whole, whether in the oven or over the grill. A popular, decadent presentation is to bake branzino in a salt crust, a traditional cooking method that results in an incredibly juicy fish thanks to the salt preserving the moisture during cooking. Cooked whole, the lean fish tastes extra rich thanks to the added flavor from the bones.
Branzino fillets also taste delicious. Prepare them as you would other white fish: baked, broiled, sauteed, steamed or even in the air fryer. Branzino also makes a tasty addition to soups, pastas, stews and casseroles.
Where to Buy Branzino
Since branzino is extremely popular right now, many grocery stores and seafood markets carry the fish. Most branzino is farm-raised, rather than ocean-caught, simply due to overfishing and supply issues. To check that the fish is fresh, gently press the flesh with a fingertip: It should be firm enough to spring back. Give it a sniff too; fresh fish shouldn’t have a strong “fishy” smell.
How to Store Branzino
Raw branzino should be kept tightly wrapped in the refrigerator until just before cooking. Fresh fish may be stored in the freezer for up to four months if the fillets haven’t been previously frozen. If you bought frozen fish, you should not re-freeze it after defrosting.
Leftover cooked branzino should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will taste best fresh but will keep for up to three days. Reheat it gently in the oven or on the stovetop until warmed through. A dash of lemon juice will revitalize the flavors.
If you want to reimagine leftover fish, use it to top a dinner salad (serve it cold or warm), to fill a sandwich or to fry up into seafood cakes.
