Chilka Style Pan Seared Black Bass Recipes

ASIAN-STYLE SIZZLING BLACK BASS

Steps:

• Make 4 deep, diagonal slashes down to the bone on both sides of the fish. Insert the ginger into the slashes. Refrigerate the fish until ready to cook.
• In a small saucepan, bring the sake, soy sauce, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and sugar to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, and let it cool. Stir in the sliced scallions.
• Fill a wok or deep-fryer large enough to hold the fish with peanut oil to cover the fish by 1 inch. Heat the oil until very hot, about 375 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer.
• Season the fish lightly all over with salt and pepper, then dust it lightly but evenly with cornstarch. Hold the fish by the tail, carefully slip it head first and away from you into the hot oil. Fry it until the skin is crispy and golden brown and the flesh is cooked through, flaky, and separates easily from the bone, about 10 minutes.
• With long-handled metal tongs, remove the fish from the wok, letting excess oil drip back into the wok. Transfer the fish to a serving platter. Garnish the fish with scallion strips and cilantro and squeeze the lemon half over it. Serve immediately, passing the sauce on the side.

SEARED BLACK BASS WITH BITTER GREENS, GRAPEFRUIT AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Coat the bottom of another smaller saute pan with olive oil. Sprinkle the fish with salt on both sides. When the large saute pan is screaming hot but not quite smoking, lay the fish fillets in the pan, skin-side down. Do not crowd the pan, you may have to work in batches. After you put the fish in the pan, place the other small saute pan directly on top of the fish fillets. This applies gentle pressure to the fish and forces the skin to have contact with the pan and will create crispy skin. Cook the fish for 3 to 4 minutes and then remove the top pan. Shake the pan a little to unstick the fish. Use a fish spatula and flip the fish fillets and cook for 2 more minutes on the other side. Remove from the pan and serve or keep warm until the remaining fish is cooked.
• In a large mixing bowl, dress the greens and red onions with olive oil and grapefruit juice and season with salt. Toss in the olive slivers and grapefruit supremes.
• Divide the salad among 4 serving plates and sprinkle with feta. Lean a fish fillet on each salad. Serve immediately.

PAN ROASTED CHILEAN SEA BASS

Steps:

• Season sea bass on each side with salt and pepper.
• Place fillets in the center of the skillet, skin side down and cook until the skin starts to crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side (moderate heat).
• Flip over, baste with butter and thyme. Transfer sea bass to a baking sheet to finish in 500 degree oven for 3-4 minutes.

LEMON AND THYME SEARED BLACK BASS

Steps:

• Season the fish with salt and pepper.
• In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the oil. Put the fish, skin side down, into the pan.
• Press firmly with a spatula to prevent the skin from curling. Sear for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip. Add the thyme sprigs, the butter and the lemon juice. Cook for an additional 4 minutes. Baste the fish for 30 seconds. Remove the fish from pan and arrange on a platter to serve.
• Cook's Note: Score the skin side of the fish, to prevent it from curling during the cooking.

CHILE-CRUSTED BLACK SEA BASS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Remove fish from refrigerator, and allow it to come to room temperature. In a medium-size bowl, combine kochujang, thyme, garlic and cream, then whisk into smooth paste.
• Dry fish carefully with paper towel. Place them dorsal-side up in a dry, oven-safe saute pan or roasting pan, pulling apart the collarbones to create ''wings'' that will stabilize them in an upright position. Slather the skin of both fish with about half of the chile-paste mixture. Add approximately 1/4 cup of water to the pan, and place carefully in the oven. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, watching carefully to make sure that the exterior does not burn. (If it starts to, cover the fish gently with a sheet of aluminum foil.) Use the tip of a small, sharp knife to check for doneness; remove from oven when the flesh is almost but not quite fully opaque. Allow fish to rest for about 2 to 4 minutes, at which point it will be done.
• Meanwhile, make sauce. Add the oil and the vinegar to the remaining chile paste, and whisk to combine. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Using a flexible metal spatula, gently remove the four fillets from the two fish. Serve skin-side up, with sauce on the side, along with white rice and sauteed kale.

PAN SAUTéED CHILEAN SEA BASS

Steps:

• Salt & Pepper the fish.
• Heat a saute pan, add olive oil.
• Put fish in pan, presentation side down.
• Cook until golden on one side, then turn over.
• Add tomatoes, garlic, oregano, fresh basil, 2 oz.feta cheese, white wine and the juice of one lemon.
• Finish in 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Take the fish out and finish with butter, a splash of wine and the remaining feta cheese.
• Recommend over saffron rice or orzo pasta.

PAN-SEARED BASS WITH WARM COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Make the couscous according to the package directions and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, score the bass skin by penetrating it only slightly with a sharp knife and creating a 1 1/2-inch-long slit in each fillet.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat for 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle the fillets with the juice of 1 lemon, then season with salt and pepper.
• Add the butter to the skillet and let melt. Add the fish skin-side down and gently press the center of the flesh on each fillet for about 10 seconds to ensure that the skin stays flat and can get crispy.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the shallots, capers and garlic around the fish and cook, spooning the butter over the fish, until the fish is cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the fish, skin-side up, to a plate and remove the skillet from the heat. Add the couscous, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, parsley and the remaining juice of 1/2 lemon to the skillet and toss to coat and combine.
• Serve the couscous salad on plates and top each with 2 fish fillets. Enjoy!

SEARED BLACK BASS WITH SCALLION-CHILE RELISH

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high until very hot but not smoking. Season bass with salt and pepper and cook, skin side down, gently pressing occasionally with a spatula to ensure contact with skillet, until skin is browned and crisp and flesh is nearly opaque, 6-8 minutes. Turn and cook until flesh is opaque throughout, about 1 minute longer.
• Meanwhile, toss scallions, chile, cilantro, lime juice, sesame seeds, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl; season with salt. Serve bass with scallion-chile relish.