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 fillets of Chilean sea bass (4–6 oz each)
- 1 ½ teaspoons of salt
- ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons of ghee
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Begin by drying the Chilean sea bass fillets with a paper towel, then season the flesh side generously with salt and pepper.
Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of ghee to the hot pan. Once the ghee has melted, carefully place the fillets in the skillet, skin side down.
Sear the fillets for about 5 minutes. Afterward, flip them over and sear the flesh side for an additional 5 minutes.
Turn the fillets once more, adding the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee along with the minced garlic. Use a spoon to drizzle the garlic butter over each fillet, ensuring they are well coated.
Introduce the lemon slices to the skillet and cook for another 4–6 minutes, or until the fish becomes tender and flaky—be careful not to overcook.
As soon as the fish is done, remove it from the pan to halt the cooking process. Drizzle the remaining garlic butter sauce over the fillets and finish with the cooked lemon slices and a sprinkle of fresh parsley for garnish.
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.