Lemon Butter Sea Bass Recipe

Welcome to a healthy, home-cook-friendly version of the luscious lemon butter sea bass. In this recipe, our chefs pan-sear the fillet until the flesh is fork-tender and the skin makes a crackling sound when you take a bite.

As a finishing touch, a rich and tangy lemon butter condiment is drizzled on top, presenting a captivating aesthetic and an irresistible flavor. Even better, this sea bass creation only requires a few easy-to-find ingredients and basic cooking skills.

So, are you ready to indulge in this sea bass feast?

Is Lemon Butter Sea Bass Healthy?

Our lemon butter sea bass carries tons of goodness, taste-wise and nutrition-wise.

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This lean fish is an abundant source of protein, minerals, and vitamins. Specifically, you will gain 23.8 g of high-quality protein from one regular-sized sea bass fillet, up to 37 percent of the daily value. High protein consumption has been shown to have positive effects on preventing muscle loss and supporting weight control.

Potatoes and green beans also bring a host of nutrients to your diet, boosting your energy levels throughout the day.

Overall, one serving of this wholesome dish only yields 484 calories with approximately 8.6 g saturated fat, 106 mg cholesterol, and 597 mg sodium—a reasonable main course. 

Ingredients You Will Need

As you can see, our chefs have decided to keep it simple with the list of ingredients.

• Sea bass: When perfectly cooked, the charm of sea bass shines through in its delicate flavor and desirably flaky texture. 
• Potatoes: The firmness and starchiness of potatoes pair excellently with the dairy-rich sauce. 
• Green beans: These versatile greens, combined with a handful of spices, give both texture and flavor—crunchiness accompanied by a nutty taste. However, if you fancy other veggies on the side, asparagus, broccoli, and spinach make great alternatives.
• Shallots: As opposed to the boldness of onions, shallots possess more mild and sophisticated notes. French chefs adored the subtle sweetness of caramelized shallots, thus opting for it as a base for soups, stews, pasta, or stir-fried dishes.
• Dairy: The combination of butter and heavy cream thickened by flour makes for a velvety Béchamel sauce.
• White wine: A splash of white wine helps sharpen your palate without leaving an unappealing acrid aftertaste—the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process.
• Lemon juice: The unique sourness of yellow lemon livens up the creamy sauce.

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Do You Wash Sea Bass Before Cooking?

Washing raw food as a habit is understandable, yet it’s time to leave it in the past.

You shouldn’t rinse raw meat, seafood, and poultry under running water, as doing this may cause cross-contamination. Bacteria spreading onto other surfaces may lead to foodborne illness.

Tips to Cooking

1. How Do You Know When Sea Bass Is Done?

We must admit that fish is not the most forgiving ingredient to work with, as seafood gets overcooked easily. Here are two simple ways to check the doneness of your fillets.

• Gently press down on your fillets with a fork or a spatula. If the flesh flakes, it’s ready to enjoy.
• Push the tip of the thermometer into the thickest part of your fillets to check the internal temperatures. If it reaches 145°F, you can remove the fish from the heat.

2. How Do You Keep Lemon Butter Sauce from Breaking?

Tricks to avoid separated lemon butter sauce:

• Whisk the mixture vigorously and briskly.
• Combine the butter slowly and gradually (a tablespoon at a time).
• Don’t overheat the sauce.
• Add a teaspoon of all-purpose flour to enhance the consistency.

3. How Do You Make Lemon Butter Sauce Less Sour?

To mellow down a too-acidic lemon butter condiment, you can:

• Reduce the amount of lemon juice, and add some lemon zest for the aroma.
• Add a dash of honey and baking soda to neutralize the acidity.

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What to Serve With

To enjoy this French-inspired creation to the fullest, why not pair it with these incredible side dishes?—recommended by our trusty chefs.

• Caprese Salad
• Kale Salad
• Instant Pot Ratatouille
• Sautéed Cauliflower
• Spinach Salad

How to Make Lemon Butter Sea Bass

5 from 1 vote

Today's lemon butter sea bass recipe introduces to your meal plan a seafood specialty that's easy, healthy, and tasty.

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• cook TIME 23 mins
• prep TIME 7 mins
• total TIME 30 mins

• COURSE Main Course
• CUISINE French
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 484 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 26 oz skin-on boneless sea bass fillets
• 24 oz potatoes (peeled, cubed)
• 10 oz green beans (tips trimmed)
• 2 oz lemon (sliced)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 4 fl oz white wine
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
• 0.5 oz shallot (minced)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

PREP:

1

Gently run your fingertips along the length of your fillets to check for pin bones. Remove them with a pair of fishbone tweezers.

2

Rinse potatoes under running water, then peel off and discard the skin. Chop them into bite-sized cubes.

3

Wash the green beans with cool water, then trim off the tips.

4

Cut the lemon in half, crosswise, then slice them into thin slices. Continue to divide those slices in half (half-moon shape).

5

Place the parsley bunch on a cutting board and slice off the long stems. Chop them finely.

6

Peel and mince shallot.

COOK:

1

Cook the potatoes: Add 24 oz peeled, cubed potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 12 minutes.

2

Stir-fry the sea bass: Place a frying pan over medium heat, then add 1 tbsp olive oil. Place 26 oz sea bass fillets skin-side down and pan-sear for 7 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for another 3 minutes. While cooking, season both sides of the fillets evenly with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.

3

Sauté the green beans: After removing the fillets from the heat, stir-fry 10 oz green beans in the same pan for 3 minutes. Put them aside on a plate.

4

Mash the potatoes: Pass the cooked potatoes through a fine mesh strainer over a glass bowl.

5

Combine the sauce: Pour 4 fl oz white wine and 0.5 oz minced shallot into a pan. Stir occasionally for 2 minutes. Continue adding 1 tsp all-purpose flour, 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp heavy cream, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp salt. Whisk for another 2 minutes.

6

Garnish and serve: Transfer your desired portion of mashed potatoes and green beans to a platter. Place your fillet on top of the mashed potatoes, then sprinkle on some parsley. Drizzle the lemon butter sauce all over and enjoy.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Lemon Butter Sea Bass

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 484Calories from Fat 170

% Daily Value*

Fat 18.9g

29%

Saturated Fat 8.6g

54%

Cholesterol 179mg

60%

Sodium 597mg

26%

Potassium 1395mg

40%

Carbohydrate 36g

12%

Fiber 7g

29%

Sugar 6g

7%

Protein 38g

76%

Vitamin A 842IU

17%

Vitamin C 36mg

44%

Calcium 89mg

9%

Iron 4mg

22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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