Sea Bass with Tomato and Capers
I adapted this pan-roasted sea bass recipe from one of my favorite cooking magazines, Fine Cooking. The original recipe calls for Halibut, but I found some nice-looking Chilean sea bass at the market. You can substitute any mild white fish like cod or grouper.
Great-tasting local tomatoes are unavailable yet, but you can find cherry or grape tomatoes with many flavors at most supermarkets. I pick up a big container of them at Costco each week and my daughters eat them like candy.
This technique for cooking this dish is what I call "Pan Roasting". Fine cooking calls it "Sear-Roasting," which may be more accurate, but I like the sound of pan roasting.
You start by browning (searing) the fish in an ovenproof skillet and finishing in the oven. This is how they do it in many restaurants and a great technique for lots of your favorite recipes.
📖 Recipe
Pan Roasted Sea Bass with Tomato & Capers
Ingredients
- 1 pint grape tomatoes washed and halved
- 2 tablespoons capers rinsed and chopped
- 1½ tablespoons fresh oregano chopped
- 1½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar good quality
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1½ pounds Chilean sea bass filets cut up to 3 or 4 steaks
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 2 cloves garlic sliced thin
Instructions
- Preheat your over to 450°F.
- Combine the tomatoes, capers, oregano, balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper in a mixing bowl.
- I like to season the flour with salt and pepper and then dredge the fillets in it. Be sure to knock off any excess flour from the fillets. If you don't, the fish will stick and the flour will burn and make a mess in the pan.
- Heat an ovenproof pan, large enough to hold all the fillets without touching, over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering hot.
- Add the fish filets being sure they are not touching or crowded.
- Cook until the fish browns and no longer sticks to the pan, about 3 minutes. Don't play with the fish while it is browning or you will pull it apart. When the fish sears, it should release easily from the pan.
- Flip the fish over using a wide fish spatula if you have one.
- Add the garlic to the pan and continue cooking until the garlic starts to brown but don't let it burn. This should take all of 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato mixture to the pan but not on top of the fish.
- Stick the pan into the oven and roast until the fish is perfectly cooked. How will you know when it is perfectly cooked?When it is firm to the touch and opaque in the center. This may take anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.
- As with just about everything you cook, let the fish rest a few minutes before serving with the tomato, garlic mixture spooned over it.
Some of My Favorite Seafood Recipes
- Salmon Curry with Coconut Miso Recipe
- Grilled Salmon Delight: Perfectly Cooked Catch of the Day
- Everything You Need to Know About Ceviche
- Roasted Cod with Potatoes and Fennel Recipe
- Classic Tuna Casserole with Dill Recipe
- Shrimp Sauce Recipe
- Shrimp and Sweet Potato Curry Recipe
- Bacon Wrapped Scallops Over Coconut Curry Lentils Recipe
Kim
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. I halved it and it was delicious. I've never made Chilean Sea Bass and had it for the first time at a restaurant in NY. I absolutely loved it and wanted to enjoy it at less than the $30 the restaurant charged for it. I made it for dinner tonight and couldn't help but eat it as soon as I put it on the plate.
Hi Kim, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know. - RG
Brad R
I made this with Barramundi (Asian sea bass). It was a HIT. Will definitely make this again. I too keep a good supply of grape tomatoes on hand -- because they've got so much flavor !!
Alex & Niki
This was an amazingly good recipe which we eliminated the flour dredge. We were so happy how this turned out. Just salt and pepper the fish beforehand and you will be pleased. The tomato and caper sauce was fantastic and so easy. I have already shared this with friends!
G. Stephen Jones
Thanks for letting me know Alex & Niki.