What Is Red snapper, whole fish and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about red snapper, whole fish and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 27 recipes to cook tonight.

What is red snapper, whole fish?

Red snapper are a prized food fish and are caught commercially , as well as recreationally. Commercially, they are caught on multi-hook gear with electric reels, as gill netting has been banned in the Gulf of Mexico, from which most of the commercial harvest comes.

Snapper constitute a major industry in the Gulf of Mexico , however recent changes in the quota system for commercial Snapper fishermen in the Gulf have made the fish less commercially viable. The red snapper is known as a very tasty fish.

Red snapper will eat almost anything, but prefer small fish and crustaceans. They can be caught on live bait as well as cut bait, and will also take artificial lures, but with less vigor. They are commonly caught up to 10 lb (4.5 kg) and 20 inches (50 cm) in length, however there have been fish taken over 40 lb (18 kg).

Nutrition

Food group

Red snapper, whole fish is a member of the Finfish and Shellfish Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does red snapper, whole fish weigh?

Related

Finfish and Shellfish Products

Recipes using red snapper, whole fish

There are 27 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Gulai Daun Singkong Tumbuk(Grilled Fish with Greens)

Indonesian grilled fish simmered in a fragrant coconut milk curry with turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, and fresh greens. A traditional Gulai recipe that brings bold Southeast Asian flavors to your table in 35 minutes.

Cold Redfish Mold

Old-school cold redfish mold with boiled red snapper, bell pepper, celery, and a mustard-lemon kick, set in its own fish stock. A Gulf Coast classic served chilled with mayo and crackers.

Fisherman's Bouillabaisse

Fisherman's bouillabaisse with lobster, red snapper, clams, and mussels in a tomato and white wine broth. Provence-inspired seafood stew ready in 45 minutes.

Steamed Fish (Pachay)

Whole fish wrapped in a banana leaf with garlic, tomato, cilantro, and achiote, then roasted on a comal or dry skillet. A traditional Central American pachay recipe that's simple and full of smoky, earthy flavor.

Steamed Fish with Ginger & Onions

Delicate steamed fish with ginger and scallions in classic Cantonese style. Light, healthy, and ready in minutes with fresh, clean flavors that shine.

Courtbouillon of Redfish

Louisiana courtbouillon of redfish, the classic Cajun fish stew. Whole redfish or red snapper steaks simmered in a brown roux, holy trinity, tomatoes, herbs, and white wine. Spooned over rice, this is bayou comfort food.

Huachinango

Huachinango: grilled red snapper marinated overnight in achiote (annatto) paste with garlic, orange juice, and oregano. The Yucatecan fish classic with deep red color and citrus-spice depth.

Master Chef Red Snapper Veracruz

Red snapper Veracruz: a classic Mexican fish dish baked in a tomato-olive-jalapeno sauce with garlic, oregano, and bay. Quick to assemble, ready in 30 minutes. The signature dish of Veracruz cuisine.

Red Snapper with Raisins & Pine Nuts

Whole red snapper baked in foil with rosemary, raisins, pine nuts, and a sweet red wine vinegar glaze. A Sicilian-inspired fish dinner with an agrodolce twist.

Grilled Fish with Greens

Sumatran grilled snapper finished in a coconut-turmeric curry with galangal, lemongrass, and wilted greens. A fragrant Indonesian fish simmer ready in 35 minutes.

Sonny Bono's Frutta Di Mare a la Palm Springs

A spectacular Italian seafood stew with swordfish, snapper, salmon, scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams, and crayfish in a tomato broth laced with anchovies and fennel. Serve over linguine.

Fish Saute in Coconut Milk (Pescado Guisado C

Whole fish sauteed in coconut milk with green pepper, tomato, and celery. A Caribbean-style pescado guisado that's simple, fragrant, and ready in 30 minutes.

Grilled Whole Red Snapper

Grilled whole red snapper over wood embers, rubbed with olive oil, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. A simple coastal classic that lets sweet, flaky fish shine.

California Bouillabaisse

California-style bouillabaisse with lobster, snapper, halibut, shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, and mussels in saffron-fennel broth with white wine and tomato. Pacific coast classic.

Fish Saute in Coconut Milk

Whole fish sauteed in rich coconut milk with green pepper, tomato, and celery. A Caribbean-style coconut fish dish using sea bass or red snapper, ready in 30 minutes.

Szechuan-Style Sliced Fish

Szechuan sliced red snapper stir-fried with tree ear mushrooms, snow peas, water chestnuts, and bell peppers in a savory garlic-ginger sauce. An authentic Chinese fish dish with wok hei.

Texmex Red Snapper

Whole red snapper baked in a spiced tomato sauce with jalapenos, capers, and olives. Warm cinnamon and cloves give this Tex-Mex fish a Veracruz-style twist that's bold and bright.

Grilled Fish in Banana Leaf

Grilled whole fish wrapped in banana leaf with a garlic, ginger, coriander root, and peppercorn paste. Served with a fresh chile lime sauce for a traditional Asian grilled seafood dish.

Baked Stuffed Red Snapper

Whole red snapper stuffed with a savory bread, celery, and tomato filling, basted with a tangy lemon-Worcestershire sauce spiked with hot sauce. Gulf Coast flavor at its finest.

Red Snapper Red

Red snapper poached in tomato, red wine, red onion, and garlic. A 20-minute one-skillet seafood dinner with a Mediterranean profile and a quiet kick of cayenne.

Seafood in Cream Sauce

Mixed seafood poached in court bouillon, then folded into a silky nutmeg cream sauce with mushrooms and green onions. A classic French-inspired dinner for four in 35 minutes.

Hot Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Red Snapper

Whole red snapper stuffed with a Gulf Coast seafood dressing of crab, shrimp, celery and white wine. A showstopping coastal main course for dinner parties.

Baked Red Snapper with Sour Cream Stuffing

Whole red snapper stuffed with a creamy filling of sour cream, dill, lemon zest, and seasoned breadcrumbs, then baked until the flesh flakes apart. An elegant centerpiece for seafood dinners.

Baked Snapper Gremolata

Red snapper fillets topped with a fresh gremolata of parsley, lemon zest, garlic, and thyme, baked right on a bed of crispy roasted potatoes. A complete one-pan dinner bursting with bright flavor.

Caribbean Red Snapper

Whole red snapper stuffed with shrimp, rice, ginger, and scallions, then draped in bacon and baked until flaky. Finished with a white wine pan sauce for a showpiece Caribbean dinner.

All 27 recipes