Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Citrus Herb Sauce

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.

Delicately pan-seared sea bass fillets served with a zesty citrus herb sauce that highlights bright flavors and tender texture. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs sea bass fillets, olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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 280 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 sea bass fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving until the skin is crisp and golden.
  3. Step 3: Flip the fillets and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter along with 2 minced garlic cloves. Spoon the melted butter over the fish and cook for another 3 minutes until the fish flakes easily.
  4. Step 4: Remove the fish and set aside. In the same pan, add 3 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp orange juice, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, and 1 tbsp chopped thyme. Stir and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes until the sauce slightly reduces and becomes fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Spoon the citrus herb sauce over the sea bass fillets and serve immediately.

Related recipes