Chilka Style Pan Seared Black Bass Food

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.

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.

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.