Sea bass baked in salt crust

Ingredients

• 1 cleaned whole sea bass (1.2–1.4 kg)
• 1.5 kg coarse salt
• 2 egg whites
• 1 lemon
• 2 thyme sprigs
• 600 g potatoes
• Olive oil to serve

Step-by-step method

1. Have the fish cleaned with skin intact and heat oven to 200°C.
2. Combine coarse salt and egg whites with a splash of water to make a damp-sand texture.
3. Spread salt on a tray, set the fish on top with lemon and thyme inside, and encase it in more salt.
4. Bake 25–35 minutes depending on size, checking the fish is fully cooked.
5. Crack the crust, remove salt and skin carefully, and serve flesh with boiled potatoes and olive oil.