Description
This easy baked sea bass recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavors with crispy edges and a perfectly flaky center, making it a healthy and simple dinner ideal for busy weeknights. It’s a flavorful and nourishing meal that comes together with quick prep and simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 4 sea bass fillets (about 150 g each), fresh
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin recommended
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons mixed fresh herbs (such as parsley, cilantro, or dill), chopped
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C (400 degrees F). Line a sturdy baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Season the Fish: Pat the sea bass fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels to ensure a nice exterior texture. Lightly brush the top side of each fillet with olive oil, then season lightly with fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and your chosen fresh herbs and minced garlic.
- Add Lemon Slices: Place thin lemon slices directly on top of or alongside each seasoned fillet; the lemon will infuse bright flavor as it bakes.
- Bake until Flaky: Place the seasoned sea bass fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork at its thickest part. (If your fish looks dry, a light drizzle of olive oil before it goes in can help keep it moist.)
- Rest and Serve: Remove the baked sea bass from the oven and let it rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes. This crucial step helps the juices redistribute, keeping the fish tender before serving.
Notes
To avoid overcooking, watch the clock and don’t bake past the point where the fish flakes easily. Patting the fillets dry is crucial for preventing steaming and achieving better texture. Avoid crowding the pan; use two baking sheets if needed to give fillets space. For the freshest fish, ask your fishmonger for available fillets and perform a smell test (should smell like the ocean, not fishy).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (approx. 150 g)
- Calories: 280 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: easy baked sea bass, healthy dinner, weeknight dinner, flaky fish, restaurant-quality, simple dinner, olive oil, lemon, fresh herbs