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Crispy Pan-Seared Sea Bass Recipe with Zesty Lemon Caper Sauce

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An easy and elegant pan-seared sea bass recipe featuring crispy skin and a bright, buttery lemon caper sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or impressing guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 skin-on sea bass fillets (about 6 oz / 170 g each), fresh and dry-patted
  • Kosher salt, to season
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to season
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat sea bass fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
  2. Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking.
  3. Place fillets skin-side down in the pan, pressing gently with a spatula to keep skin flat. Cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until edges are golden and skin is crispy.
  4. Flip fillets carefully and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes until fish is opaque and flakes easily. Avoid overcooking.
  5. While fish cooks, combine lemon juice, minced garlic, capers, and parsley in a small bowl.
  6. Remove fish from pan and set aside on a warm plate. Lower heat to medium, add butter to pan and swirl until melted and slightly browned.
  7. Pour lemon-caper mixture into pan and stir for 1-2 minutes to warm through and blend flavors. Avoid burning garlic.
  8. Spoon lemon caper sauce over sea bass fillets, garnish with extra parsley if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Patting the fish dry and letting the skin crisp undisturbed is key for crispy skin. If skin sticks when flipping, wait 30 seconds and try again gently. When browning butter, watch carefully to avoid burning. For dairy-free, substitute butter with vegan margarine or extra olive oil. Use firm white fish like cod or halibut as alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: sea bass, pan-seared fish, lemon caper sauce, crispy skin, quick dinner, seafood recipe, easy fish recipe, elegant dinner

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/crispy-pan-seared-sea-bass-recipe-with-zesty-lemon-caper-sauce-easy-and-perfect/