You'll love this easy Pan Fried Sea Bass! This easy fish recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and is a healthy option for the whole family.
With flaky sea bass and a garlic herb pan sauce, this fish recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
Recipe Inspiration
These sea bass fish fillets are one of my favorite ways to make fish! I love this recipe because it's so fresh and packed with flavor. Plus, there are only a few easy steps to have a delicious dinner in under 30 minutes!
You can use fresh fish or thawed frozen fish depending on what is available in your area.
This fish is great paired with angel hair pasta tossed with olive oil & lemon juice and an arugula salad. I love keeping meals like this simple!
If you're looking for other seafood recipes, check out our Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna, Pistachio Crusted Salmon, and Steelhead Trout with Garlic Herb Butter recipes!
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Delicious - This recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love! It's really a perfect dish for the whole family. Great for entertaining too!
- Approachable - This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a few kitchen tools to make this great recipe.
- Versatile - Serve this sea bass on a light pasta, with rice and vegetables, or with a simply dressed salad.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe:
- Sea Bass - You can use chilean sea bass or barramundi, whichever you prefer or have available at your grocery store.
- Olive oil - regular olive oil
- Unsalted butter
- Kosher Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic - minced
- White wine - use a dry white wine, like a Riesling. You can also use chicken stock if you don't drink alcohol.
- Lemon juice - freshly squeezed or bottled
- Fresh parsley - for serving. You can also use other fresh herbs such as basil or oregano.
Directions
Let's make this pan fried sea bass recipe together!
Step 1
Pat sea bass fillets dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Step 2
Heat a large frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and a knob of butter.
Step 3
Add fish, skin side down, and cook for 3 minutes per side. Let the fish cook without touching to achieve a crispy skin. Thicker fillets may need more time to cook, and thinner fillets may need less. I recommend using an instant thermometer to ensure that your fish is cooked perfectly. You're looking to achieve an internal temperature of 145 F.
Don't overcrowd the pan - if you have more than 2 fillets, work in batches.
Step 4
Remove fish from the pan. Add garlic cloves, white wine, and lemon juice to the pan. Bring to a simmer and reduce for 5 minutes.
Top sea bass with white wine sauce and fresh parsley. Serve with lemon slices and enjoy!
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
- Fry Pan - I have this frying pan and love it. I never have issues with anything sticking!
- Serving Platter - I love serving this pan fried sea bass on a large serving platter with lemons and fresh herbs. Check out this large serving platter set - it will be great for so many dishes!
- Fish Spatula - Grab a fish spatula to make flipping fish super easy!
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy sea bass recipe.
- Fish Substitution - Any white fish will work in this recipe. If you can't find sea bass, I recommend red snapper!
- Sauce Variation - You can get creative with different flavors in the pan sauce for this recipe. Add in soy sauce, red wine, or capers for different takes on the flavor.
- Seasoning - You can add cajun seasoning, garlic powder, or other dried herbs to the fish prior to searing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pan fry sea bass in hot olive oil and butter for 3 minutes per side, without touching it. The sea bass is cooked when the internal temperature is 145 F.
Yes, you can absolutely eat sea bass skin, especially when it's fried until crispy.
You can serve sea bass with a variety of other foods. Some ideas are with an arugula salad, angel hair pasta, garlic potatoes, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and rice, or lemon risotto.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
- Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
- Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.
Other Recipes to Try
Check out some of our other tasty dinner recipes.
Pan Fried Sea Bass
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb sea bass
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Pat sea bass fillets dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and butter.
- Add fish, skin side down, and cook for 3 minutes per side.
- Remove fish from the pan. Add garlic cloves, white wine, and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and reduce for 5 minutes.
- Top fish with white wine sauce and fresh parsley.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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