Fried Bass Recipes

PAN FRIED SEA BASS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet with olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Season the fillets with some salt and pepper. Place fillets in skillet and cook about 5 minutes on each side. When the fish is cooked, set aside on a plate and deglaze the pan with the vermouth, add the thyme and saffron leaving to bubble until it's reduced by two thirds. Add remaining butter and whisk followed by the heavy cream and heat through. Serve fillets with light saffron cream sauce and blanched asparagus.

FRIED BASS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk eggs and water together in a bowl; set the egg wash aside.
• Sprinkle the bass fillets on both sides with Cajun seasoning and lemon pepper. Dredge the fillets in flour, and shake off any excess. Dip the fillets in the egg wash, then dip fillets in the crushed potato chips.
• Fry the fish in the preheated skillet until lightly browned, about 4 minutes per side. Serve with lemon wedges.

DEEP FRIED SEA BASS

Steps:

• Into a deep-fryer, preheat frying oil to 375°F [190°C].
• Into a bowl, mix together flour, salt, both peppers, Essence, and baking powder.
• Coat fish fillets with mixture, reserving remaining mixture.
• Lightly beat eggs; beat in milk and oil.
• Mix in remaining reserved flour mixture; beat until smooth.
• Dip fish into mixture.
• Deep-fry fish fillets until crunchy and golden brown.
• Drain onto paper toweling.

FRESH FRIED LARGEMOUTH BASS

Steps:

• Place bass in a bowl. Add salt and cover with water. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes to draw out all blood. Rinse bass thoroughly to remove salt. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place cornmeal, flour, seasoned salt, paprika, and pepper in a gallon-sized plastic bag. Zip and shake until evenly combined.
• Drop 2 pieces of bass into the bag, zip, and shake to coat. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining bass.
• Fry bass in the preheated deep fryer for 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately.

GARY'S FRIED FRESH BASS

Steps:

• Place cleaned & deboned bass fillets (preferably small-mouth bass - but works with large-mouth & bluegill fillets too -- ) in a large zip-lock bag.
• Cover with milk and seal bag. Refrigerate overnight.
• Next day, dry fillets on paper towels. Season both sides with Paprika, salt & pepper (to taste).
• Coat each fillet with Wondra Flour.
• Meanwhile, preheat Crisco in iron skillet on medium-high heat.
• Fry fillets in 1/2" of melted & hot Crisco on medium-high heat. For about 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels when done.

PAN FRIED LARGEMOUTH BASS WITH LEMON GARLIC HERB BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Season the fillets with salt and pepper. Heat a saute pan on top of the grill. When the pan is hot add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat. Dredge the bass fillets in the flour and shake off any excess. Place the fillets in the pan and pan fry about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the fish from the pan. Add the rest of the butter to the pan and melt. When the butter is hot, add the sliced garlic. Fry the garlic until it just begins to turn light golden brown. Add the herbs and remove from the heat. Carefully, add the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, place a fillet on a plate and spoon some of the lemon garlic herb butter over the fish.

PAN-FRIED STRIPED BASS WITH LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce, whisk together: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Taste for salt and lemon juice and adjust as desired. The sauce will separate as it sits; this is not a problem.
• Season: 4 pieces striped bass, skin on (4 to 6 ounces each) with: Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Choose a heavy-bottomed pan for frying the fish. Take another, slightly smaller pan that will fit into the pan for the fish, and wrap its bottom with foil. This pan will be used as a weight to hold the fish flat against the frying pan to ensure that all of the skin will cook and crisp. (You will see the fish contract when it goes into the hot pan, as the skin shrinks on contact with the heat.) Warm the larger pan over medium-high heat. When hot, pour in: Olive oil, enough to generously coat the bottom.
• Add the pieces of bass, skin side down, and place the foil-wrapped pan on top of the fish. Cook until the skin is brown and crispy, about 7 minutes. Check now and then to see that the fish is indeed browning, but not overbrowning. Adjust the heat up or down to speed up or slow down the cooking as needed. When the skin is browned, remove the top pan and turn the fish. Cook for another minute or so, until the fish is just cooked through, but is still moist and tender inside. Meanwhile whisk the lemon sauce together again and pour it onto a warm plate. Serve the fish skin side up, on top of the sauce.
• Garnish the fish with a couple spoonfuls of chopped tender herbs such as parsley, chives, chervil, cilantro, or basil.
• Soak, rinse, and squeeze dry a tablespoon or so of capers. When the fish is cooked add the capers to the hot pan and sauté for a minute or two. Remove with a slotted spoon and scatter over the fish.
• Make a Beurre Blanc (Warm Butter Sauce; page 228) instead of the olive oil sauce.