Sea bass is a delicious, tender white fish with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It can be prepared using a variety of cooking methods and makes for an easy weeknight dinner or elegant entree. In this article, we will explore three popular methods for cooking sea bass: Oven-Baked, Air-Fried, and Pan-Seared
1. How To Cook Sea Bass in Oven
Ingredients
- 4 sea bass fillets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon slices (for serving)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
Season the sea bass fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Place them in the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine.
Pour the butter garlic lemon sauce over the sea bass fillets, making sure they are evenly coated.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the sea bass is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fillets.
Once cooked, remove the sea bass fillets from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes.
Transfer the fillets to serving plates, drizzling any remaining sauce from the baking dish over them.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon slices on the side.
2. How To Cook Sea Bass in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 sea bass fillets
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon red crushed pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, red crushed pepper flakes, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
Place the sea bass fillets in a shallow dish or zip-top bag and pour the marinade over them. Ensure the fillets are evenly coated. Let them marinate for 15-20 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Place the marinated sea bass fillets in the air fryer basket, allowing any excess marinade to drip off.
Cook the sea bass fillets in the air fryer for approximately 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through and flaky. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fillets.
Once cooked, remove the sea bass fillets from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes.
Serve the Air Fryer Sea Bass hot, garnished with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, if desired.
3. How To Cook Sea Bass on Stove ( Pan-Seared)
Ingredients
- 4 sea bass fillets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
Season the sea bass fillets with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Place the sea bass fillets in the skillet, skin side down. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
Flip the fillets and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and easily flakes with a fork. Adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of the fillets.
Transfer the cooked sea bass fillets to a plate and tent them with foil to keep warm.
In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly. Then squeeze the lemon juice into the skillet and stir well to combine with the garlic butter.
Return the sea bass fillets to the skillet and spoon the garlic butter sauce over them. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the fillets to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
Remove the skillet from heat and transfer the sea bass fillets to serving plates. You can garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Whether you opt for the gentle embrace of the oven, air fryer or the sizzling skillet, I hope that after reading this article, you’ll be able to create mouthwatering sea bass dishes that will impress even the most discerning palates.
