In the world of seafood, there are two different schools of thought. There are people who prefer shellfish, and people who prefer the catch of the day. When it comes to fish, finding fans of tilapia is common. Sea bass? Not so much. That’s a shame, and if you’re new to it, these sea bass recipes might just convert you to a major fan.
Sea Bass 101: The Basics
If you want to cook good sea bass, it’s a good idea to know a little bit about the culinary side of the fish’s history. Sea bass are primarily an American type of fish. They’re known for being exclusive to the Atlantic Ocean between Florida and the Northern tip of Cape Cod. This means that most of the traditional recipes with these small fish come from the East Coast. It’s all-American eating!
This type of bass isn’t very large. They grow up to be about two pounds, maximum. This means that most sea bass recipes that you’ll find will have smaller portions or require multiple fish. When you’re at the market, look for brightly colored fish with fresh eyes and pink gills. That’s how you know it’s fresh. Once you grab some bass, you can try out one of these sea bass recipes below.
Potato Crusted Sea Bass With Lemon Sauce
If you want to get a taste of classic American seafood a la Boston, it’s important to remember the kinds of flavors that are popular there. Bostonian dishes are known for having a “stick to your ribs” blend of ingredients. Potatoes, heavy cream, and lemon are commonly used in Boston-style seafood. (After all, Boston clam chowder’s pretty creamy, isn’t it?)
This is one of the more classic American sea bass recipes out there, which means you have a bunch of perks. Ingredients are easy to find, it’s affordable to make, and if you serve it to your conservative in-laws, they won’t accuse you of liking “weird food.” It tastes great, too, so it’s a win-win.
Seared Sea Bass With Tomato And Spinach
Though there are a bunch of awesome American-style recipes, there’s no denying that Italian-Americans made sea bass one of their favorite seafood staples. Cooking Italian With Joe is one YouTube station that proves that point well. This recipe blends savory tomatoes, garlic, and thyme with the oceany taste of sea bass and lemon juice. The end result is a mouthwatering masterpiece that goes well with white wine.
If you’re a hardcore fan of Italian cuisine, this is one recipe you won’t want to skip out on. If you’re feeling particularly decadent or want to stretch it out as a meal, I strongly suggest serving it atop a bed of pasta or arugula.
Sea Bass With Beurre Blanc
If you’ve been paying attention to my articles, you already know that I’m a huge fan of French cooking. You also know that I’m an even bigger fan of a good beurre blanc sauce. What you might not know is that one of the easiest sea bass recipes to make is just frying up some sea bass and adding a little freshly-made beurre blanc to the mix.
This tangy, savory, and downright decadently buttery sauce makes any form of fish great. This video above makes it easy to replicate. Want to make your own beurre blanc using one of my favorite recipes? Check out our Food and Dating recipe for it.
Sea Bass Loup en Croute
Looking for a challenging dish that’s approved by Michelin Star-rated restaurants? Look no further than a loup en croute featuring sea bass or a similarly flaky fish. Though it sounds like an old school dinner favorite, this recipe is still relatively new. It was first served in L’Auberges du Pont de Collonges in Lyon during the early 1970s and became an instant hit.
This recipe, which is shown at The Real Deal Cooking Channel, is all about bringing that delicious pasty-style cooking to seafood, with just a hint of style from Aix-en-Provence. If you’re a fan of savory foods that have a delightful herbal touch, you’re going to enjoy this recipe, big time.
Miso-Marinated Sea Bass With Shiitake Soy Glaze Sauce
Where do we even begin with this? Sea bass recipes are always good, but if you’re a fan of Japanese steakhouse-style cuisine, this just takes the cake. This recipe was created and offered up by Hiroyuki Terada, a famous sushi master chef. Though it looks fancy and seems like it’d be hard to make, Terada’s recipe remains remarkably easy.
If you’re looking for something tangy with a delicious Japanese twist, this recipe will help you bring back the wonderful flavors and scents of going out to eat during quarantine. That alone makes it worth checking out.
Steamed Bass
Making your own Chinese food at home is intimidating for many people, but thankfully, there are awesome online tutorials that teach you the ropes. If you are ready to give your taste buds a treat that’s healthy and good to eat, it’s great to know that Plated Asia has a tutorial that’s right up your alley.
In China, having steamed fish is a traditional treat during Chinese New Year. It’s said to help encourage wealth and good luck into the new year, primarily because the word for fish, yu, sounds close to the word for surplus. This particular recipe offers you a pop of flavor but keeps prices and a need for exotic cooking gear low. Your wallet, stomach, and mouth will thank you for making it.
Quick And Easy Bass With Avocado Salsa
Feeling overwhelmed by all the involvement required for some of these sea bass recipes? I can understand that. Not everyone has an hour or so to do all the prep and cooking work for some of these options. That’s understandable, and that’s why we love viral cooking show host The Stay At Home Chef is so awesome. She came up with a recipe that offers up a tropical twist of flavor.
Anyone who’s a fan of avocado salsa is going to want to try this recipe. It’s flaky, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth good!