Grilled Grouper

Simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, mild grouper fillets pick up lightly smoky, savory flavor in scallion, lemon, and butter stuffed packets on the grill. These packets leave the fish perfectly moist and flaky, and avoid potentially sticky grill grates. The built-in sauce cooks as the butter and lemon melt into the fish, and pair perfectly with fluffy cooked rice or crusty baguettes for sopping.

By John Somerall

Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

Ingredients

16 medium scallions or 8 small spring onions, roots trimmed

4 (6-ounce) skinless grouper fillets

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 medium lemon, sliced crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick rounds, seeds removed

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 (1/2-inch) cubes

¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Toasted baguette or cooked white rice

Directions

Cut scallion or spring onion stalks roughly in half crosswise to separate white and light green bottoms from dark green tops. (If using spring onions, slice the bottom pieces in half lengthwise to make thinner.) Cut scallion bottom pieces in half crosswise to make shorter segments. Set separated dark green tops aside.
Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high (400°F to 450°F). Arrange 4 (12-inch) square sheets of aluminum foil on a work surface. Arrange 8 scallion bottom segments in a single layer on the center of each foil square. Sprinkle grouper fillets evenly with salt, pepper, and paprika, and place 1 fillet on top of scallions on each foil square. Top each fillet evenly with lemon slices to cover completely. Place 2 butter cubes over each layer of lemon slices.
Bring together top and bottom of each foil square above the grouper mixture, and fold foil tightly over itself 3 times. Fold each outer side of foil packet in toward center 3 times, pinching to seal the packet. The packet should be airtight but with space above the food inside the packet.
Place foil packets on unoiled grill grates; grill, covered, until a thermometer inserted into grouper registers 135°F, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer foil packets to a baking sheet, and let rest 5 minutes (the grouper will continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 140°F to 145°F). Meanwhile, thinly slice 1/4 cup of the reserved dark green scallion tops; toss with parsley in a small bowl until combined.
Carefully unwrap each foil packet, reserving liquid in bottom of each packet; discard lemon slices. Arrange grilled scallion segments and grouper evenly on 4 plates, and pour reserved liquid over each fillet. Top fillets with sliced scallion-parsley mixture. Serve immediately alongside baguette or rice.

References:

Food&Wine