Chilka Style Pan Seared Black Bass Recipes

ASIAN-STYLE SIZZLING BLACK BASS

Steps:

• Make 4 deep, diagonal slashes down to the bone on both sides of the fish. Insert the ginger into the slashes. Refrigerate the fish until ready to cook.
• In a small saucepan, bring the sake, soy sauce, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and sugar to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, and let it cool. Stir in the sliced scallions.
• Fill a wok or deep-fryer large enough to hold the fish with peanut oil to cover the fish by 1 inch. Heat the oil until very hot, about 375 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer.
• Season the fish lightly all over with salt and pepper, then dust it lightly but evenly with cornstarch. Hold the fish by the tail, carefully slip it head first and away from you into the hot oil. Fry it until the skin is crispy and golden brown and the flesh is cooked through, flaky, and separates easily from the bone, about 10 minutes.
• With long-handled metal tongs, remove the fish from the wok, letting excess oil drip back into the wok. Transfer the fish to a serving platter. Garnish the fish with scallion strips and cilantro and squeeze the lemon half over it. Serve immediately, passing the sauce on the side.

LEMON AND THYME SEARED BLACK BASS

Steps:

• Season the fish with salt and pepper.
• In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the oil. Put the fish, skin side down, into the pan.
• Press firmly with a spatula to prevent the skin from curling. Sear for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip. Add the thyme sprigs, the butter and the lemon juice. Cook for an additional 4 minutes. Baste the fish for 30 seconds. Remove the fish from pan and arrange on a platter to serve.
• Cook's Note: Score the skin side of the fish, to prevent it from curling during the cooking.

SEARED BLACK BASS WITH BITTER GREENS, GRAPEFRUIT AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Coat the bottom of another smaller saute pan with olive oil. Sprinkle the fish with salt on both sides. When the large saute pan is screaming hot but not quite smoking, lay the fish fillets in the pan, skin-side down. Do not crowd the pan, you may have to work in batches. After you put the fish in the pan, place the other small saute pan directly on top of the fish fillets. This applies gentle pressure to the fish and forces the skin to have contact with the pan and will create crispy skin. Cook the fish for 3 to 4 minutes and then remove the top pan. Shake the pan a little to unstick the fish. Use a fish spatula and flip the fish fillets and cook for 2 more minutes on the other side. Remove from the pan and serve or keep warm until the remaining fish is cooked.
• In a large mixing bowl, dress the greens and red onions with olive oil and grapefruit juice and season with salt. Toss in the olive slivers and grapefruit supremes.
• Divide the salad among 4 serving plates and sprinkle with feta. Lean a fish fillet on each salad. Serve immediately.

PAN SEARED SEA BASS WITH CURRY AND BLISTERED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place skillet over med-high heat.
• Pat the sea bass dry, sprinkle one side with half the sea salt and curry powder. Once skillet is hot, pour in the oil and add the fish seasoned side down in hot pan to sear. Sprinkle remaining salt and curry over the top.
• Once the sea bass is seared (it will easily release from skillet), flip and add the tomatoes drop and a pat of butter. Thick Fish: Turn off burner, cover and place skillet in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Thin Fillets: simply cook through right on the burner.
• Place the cooked fish on plate or over your starch of choice and pour the tomatoes and butter sauce over the top to serve.

PAN-SEARED BASS WITH WARM COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Make the couscous according to the package directions and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, score the bass skin by penetrating it only slightly with a sharp knife and creating a 1 1/2-inch-long slit in each fillet.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat for 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle the fillets with the juice of 1 lemon, then season with salt and pepper.
• Add the butter to the skillet and let melt. Add the fish skin-side down and gently press the center of the flesh on each fillet for about 10 seconds to ensure that the skin stays flat and can get crispy.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the shallots, capers and garlic around the fish and cook, spooning the butter over the fish, until the fish is cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the fish, skin-side up, to a plate and remove the skillet from the heat. Add the couscous, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, parsley and the remaining juice of 1/2 lemon to the skillet and toss to coat and combine.
• Serve the couscous salad on plates and top each with 2 fish fillets. Enjoy!