Whether you seek an effortless meal or want to put your newly-bought gadget to the test, this air fryer sea bass recipe will meet your needs. Our chefs massaged the fillets with Cajun and Italian seasoning before air-frying them until golden brown. Besides that, we decided to pair fish with broccoli, red kidney beans, and corn for extra nutrients.
Shall we put on our aprons and let the cooking begin?
Main Ingredients
- Sea bass: The charm of cooked sea bass lies in its texture and flavor – a mild fishy taste followed by a hint of sweetness and a flaky, meaty texture. Our chefs suggest looking for white-pinkish fillets that are firm to the touch as these are signs of fresh fish.
- Broccoli: We love this superfood for three main reasons: it’s nutritious, refreshing, and eye-mesmerizing once perfectly cooked.
- Red kidney beans: These fibrous beans lend notes of creaminess, nuttiness, and sweetness to our air-fried creation.
- Chickpeas: As canned chickpeas still work as well as their fresh varieties, why not use them to save more time and effort? Remember to rinse canned legumes with cool water to wash away the excess sodium.
- Corn kernels: If you’re using frozen corn kernels, don’t forget to thaw them before cooking.
- Dairy products: The combination of butter, whole milk, and heavy cream makes for a luscious sauce that dresses up many grilled, baked, and fried dishes.
- White wine: No need to worry about the alcohol taste as it will evaporate during the cooking process. A splash of alcohol also helps sharpen the flavor of your cream sauce.
- Seasonings: While the Cajun mix introduces a bold spicy flavor, Italian seasoning infuses the sea bass with notes of basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
Can You Cook Frozen Sea Bass Fillets in an Air Fryer?
Even though – technically – you can cook frozen fish fillets in the air-fryer, we don’t recommend doing so. For recipes requiring well-seasoned sea bass, defrosting is needed to help the spices absorb better. Plus, using unthawed fillets will make heat distribution harder, resulting in the risk of undercooked fish.
Is Air Fryer Sea Bass Healthy?
We’ve carefully mapped out all the factors that went into this dish – from the cooking techniques to the ingredients, to make this air fryer sea bass as healthy as it’s tasty.
Let’s start with our trusty air-fryer.
This appliance is much-loved for its convenience and health-friendly qualities. Unlike deep-frying or shallow-frying, air-frying requires only a little to no added oil during the cooking process, thus great for reducing the fat intake in your diet.
“How about the ingredients?” – you ask.
While sea bass provides an impressive amount of omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality protein—supporting your physical health—kidney beans and chickpeas fill your stomach with fiber. Dietary fiber has been proven to lower the risk of heart problems by helping reduce blood pressure and blood sugars.
Overall, our dish only contains 458 calories, 576 mg of sodium, 94 mg of cholesterol, and 6.2 g of saturated fat, which is reasonable for a main course.
What to Serve With
Are you wondering how to serve this heart-warming dish? Here are our top five side dishes for you.
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Loaded Potato Salad
How to Cook Sea Bass in an Air Fryer
Today's air fryer sea bass recipe will allow you to enjoy the incredible blistered fillets paired with refreshing vegetables in only 35 minutes.
- cook TIME 25 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 35 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE Global
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 458 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 26 oz skin-on boneless sea bass fillets
- 8 oz broccoli (cut into florets)
- 8 oz unsalted dark red kidney beans
- 8 oz canned chickpeas
- 4 oz corn kernels
- 1/2 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
- 0.25 oz shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 1 fl oz white wine
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
PREP:
Clean the sea bass fillets: To check for pin bones, gently run your fingertips along the length of each fillet. If there are any left, remove them with a pair of tweezers. Avoid washing the fillets under running water to prevent spreading the bacteria.
Cut the broccoli: Use a sharpened knife to slice off the main stem and discard it. Cut the broccoli head into smaller florets. Rinse them under running water and pat them dry.
Clean the canned red kidney beans and canned chickpeas: Open the can of red kidney beans with a can opener. Drain the beans in a colander over a sink. Rinse them again under the faucet. Repeat this process for the canned chickpeas.
Mince the garlic: Remove the garlic cloves from the bulb, then trim off the tips. Use the side of a knife to press on the cloves. Peel off and discard the skin. Mince them well.
Chop the parsley: Place the parsley bunch on the cutting board. Slice off the long stems. Chop them roughly.
COOK:
Season the sea bass fillets: Place 26 oz sea bass fillets in a big mixing bowl. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning, and 1/2 tsp pepper. With your hands, gently massage the spices onto the fillets.
Cook the fillets: Line the frying basket with parchment paper (optional). Arrange the fillets in the basket, then air fry at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Cook the broccoli: In the meantime, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 8 oz broccoli and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
Sauté garlic: Place a shallow pan over medium heat. Combine 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1/2 tbsp minced garlic. Stir fry for 30 seconds.
Make the sauce: In the same pan, add 1 tsp of all-purpose flour and mix evenly. Continue to pour 1/4 cup whole milk, 1/4 cup unsalted chicken broth, 1 fl oz white wine, 1/2 tsp salt stir occasionally for 2 minutes. Lower the heat and 1 tbsp heavy cream, 0.25 oz shredded parmesan cheese stir well and remove from the heat.
Assemble the dish and enjoy: Toss together 8 oz unsalted dark red kidney beans, 8 oz canned chickpeas, and 4 oz corn kernels. Place the air-fried fillet, cooked broccoli, red kidney beans, chickpeas, and corn on a platter. Drizzle the cream sauce over the fillet. Sprinkle parsley.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorNatalie Butler, RD, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Lady JayWow! looks so delicious.
- marleaheoCrispy and flavorful sea bass.