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Fried Sea Bass with Lemon Garlic Sauce

The fresh herbs and garlic make this mild fish a bit more assertive, but recognizably bass all the same.
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.5 lbs. sea bass fillets
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt and more if needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and more if needed
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 cup vegetable stock or water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves stripped off the stem roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley roughly chopped
  • Lemon wedges for squeezing over the fish at the table.

Instructions
 

  • Pat the fillets dry with a paper towel.
  • Mix the flour, salt, and black pepper.
  • Coat each fillet in the seasoned flour. Shake off excess flour.
  • Using a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat and add the olive oil (1 tablespoon).
  • Cook the fish for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and fully cooked. The cooking time may vary, depending on the thickness of the fillets.
  • Try not to move the fish much, as it tends to stick if disturbed too often. Once cooked, remove it to a platter and keep it warm.
  • Reduce the heat to low. Pour the white wine into the skillet stirring up any browned bits. Cook and stir until almost all the wine has evaporated.
  • Melt one more tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Add the garlic, basil, thyme and parsley to the skillet, and cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the vegetable stock or water. Bring to a simmer.
  • Turn heat off. Stir the remaining tablespoon of butter and lemon juice into the hot skillet.
  • Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
  • Spoon sauce on top of fish and serve.