Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Coconut Milk and Dendê Oil Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-27 · Updated 2026-07-27

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 developed and reviewed.

Delicately pan-seared sea bass served with a rich and fragrant sauce made from creamy coconut milk and vibrant dendê palm oil, inspired by Afro-Brazilian coastal cuisine. This Brazilian-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs sea bass fillets, coconut milk, dendê (palm) oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 340 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 Brazilian cuisine 340 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces (5 oz each) sea bass fillets
1 cup coconut milk
3 tbsp dendê (palm) oil
3 minced garlic cloves
2 minced shallots
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 sea bass fillets (5 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sea bass fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip and cook an additional 3 minutes until fish is opaque and flakes easily. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
Step 3: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 3 tbsp dendê palm oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 2 minced shallots. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
Step 4: Pour in 1 cup coconut milk and 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, stirring to combine. Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt if needed, and spoon the sauce over the sea bass fillets before serving.