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1
Run the back of a knife over the fish to make sure all the scales have been removed. Using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, cut off all the fins. Rinse the fish inside and out to remove any blood. Dry it on paper towels, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
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2
Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onions, fennel, and thyme and saute, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the diced sausage, if using, and saute until the sausage is fragrant, about 1 minute more. Or, if you are not using sausage, add the butter and stir to melt. (The butter is comparable to the amount of fat the sausage would add and is essential to the recipe.) Remove the skillet from the heat and cool sllghtly.
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3
Add the chives, parsley, and cracker crumbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper and mix to combine. The stuffing will be fairly loose. Set aside.
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4
Adjust an oven rack to the lower position and preheat the oven to 325u00b0F. Rub the bottom of a large roasting pan with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
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5
Cover the roasting pan loosely with aluminum foil, place in the oven, and roast for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and baste the fish with its pan drippings. Continue to roast uncovered for 15 minutes, then baste again with pan drippings. Roast 15 minutes more, then remove from the oven and turn up the heat to 450u00b0F
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6
Transfer the fish to the warm platter with two spatulas. Garnish the platter with lemon wedges and the reserved fennel fronds, and present the fish whole. To serve, slide a large serving spoon between the backbone and the top fillet to loosen the fillet. Serve each portion with a spoonful of the stuffing and a piece of the crisp skin. After the top fillet has been served, pull the frame of bones away to expose the bottom fillet. Warn your guests to be on the lookout for pin bones-it is impossible to serve a whole fish without getting a few.
