Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Citrus Herb Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A delicate sea bass fillet pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a bright citrus herb butter sauce that enhances its natural flavors. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs sea bass fillets, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 sea bass fillets and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Place the sea bass fillets skin-side down in the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving until the edges are crispy and golden brown.
  4. Step 4: Flip the fillets carefully and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
  5. Step 5: Remove the fillets to a warm plate and wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.
  6. Step 6: Lower the heat to medium and melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in the skillet. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  7. Step 7: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, and 1 tsp orange zest, cooking for another 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly.
  8. Step 8: Spoon the citrus herb butter over the sea bass fillets and serve immediately.

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