Pan-Seared White Fish with Lemon-Caper Sauce
Delicate white fish fillets pan-seared and finished with a bright lemon-caper sauce that enhances the regional coastal flavors. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs white fish fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 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.
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz each), skin removed white fish fillets
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup for dredging all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp rinsed capers
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 4 white fish fillets dry, then season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Lightly dredge each fillet in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the fish fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and opaque in the center. Remove fish and keep warm.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp rinsed capers, cooking for 1 minute until sauce slightly thickens.
- Step 5: Spoon the lemon-caper sauce over the fish, garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately.






