2 small fennel bulbs, fronds reserved, bulbs cut into half
8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
150gr heavy cream
1 tbsp plus 3 tsp kosher salt
1 small lemon
65gr extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Preheat oven to 250°C. Place fennel in a large saucepan wide enough to fit fish comfortably. Add garlic, cream, and 1 tbsp plus 2 tsp salt. Place over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is just tender, 12–15 minutes (do not let cream come to a boil). Remove from heat.
Season fish with remaining 1 tsp salt. Using tongs, carefully slip fish into pan (it should be mostly covered). Transfer to oven and cook fish, uncovered, until flesh easily flakes with a fork, 18–22 minutes.
While the fish is cooking, finely chop reserved fennel fronds and place in a small bowl. Cut ends off lemon; discard. Place lemon upright on one end and cut lemon into four lobes, working around the center as you would an apple and leaving core and seeds behind. Finely chop lobes (peel and all) and transfer to bowl with fennel fronds. Squeeze juice from core over fennel fronds; discard core. Drizzle in oil and toss mixture to combine. Season fennel oil with salt and lots of pepper.
Break fish into large pieces and divide among shallow bowls. Divide garlic and fennel among bowls and ladle some garlic cream on top; spoon fennel oil over.
