Chilka Style Pan Seared Black Bass Food

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.

PAN SEARED CHILEAN SEA BASS

Steps:

• Cut SEA BASS filet down the center to create 2 pieces (1/2 lb. each). Allow to rest 20 minutes at room temp to remove chill.
• Heat OLIVE OIL in skillet over medium-high until it reaches the smoke point.
• Place sea bass (skin side down) in the hot skillet. Sprinkle SALT and PEPPER over the filet.
• If you want crispy skin, press the filet down firmly with a spatula until it becomes visibly crispy. Turn the filet over and allow the non-skin side to sear until the filet is opaque throughout, reducing heat a notch or two as needed.
• Transfer the filet to a plate and allow to rest a few minutes.
• Serve sea bass warm with your favorite salad and side dish. Suggested: serve over salad greens topped with Chimichurri Sauce (see recipe in footnotes).

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-SEARED CHILEAN SEA BASS WITH FRISEE AND PONZU BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the ponzu sauce: Combine the orange juice, soy sauce, stock, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, orange and lemongrass in a large saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and allow to reduce by a third. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain through a chinois or fine-mesh sieve into another saucepan. Keep warm until ready to serve.
• For the fish: Sprinkle the sea bass with salt and pepper on both sides. Place a medium nonstick pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Heat until the oil is hot, then add the sea bass and sear on the first side for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat a 10-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil to coat the pan. Once the sea bass is ready to be flipped, transfer the fish to the cast-iron pan. Allow to start searing, then transfer the pan immediately to the oven to cook through, 7 to 8 minutes.
• For the ponzu butter: Add 1 cup ponzu to the same nonstick pan the fish was first seared in and place over high heat. Reduce the sauce by half, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and agave, then whisk to combine and allow the butter to melt and emulsify.
• Put the frisee in a bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon some of the sauce onto a platter and top with the sea bass fillets. Top each piece of sea bass with the dressed frisee, red chile flakes and edible flowers.

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 CHILEAN SEA BASS WITH WILD MUSHROOM GRITS AND FRESH SPINACH

Steps:

• Season the sea bass with salt and pepper.
• In a large saute pan over medium heat, add the canola oil and heat the oil to a slight smoke. Add 1 sprig of fresh thyme to the saute pan and sear the sea bass skin side down for 3/4 of the cooking time about 7 minutes. This will give the fish a beautiful crisp skin and golden color.
• While the fish is cooking start the grits. In a 2 quart saucepot add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 sprig of fresh thyme. When the butter begins to brown, add the mushrooms and saute until golden. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the grits, add the chicken stock, and reduce to a simmer. When the grits begin to thicken finish with heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of butter. Season with salt and pepper, when ready to serve, remove the thyme sprig. Keep the grits warm on a low temperature.
• Carefully turn the fish over, to finish the other side. Remove the sea bass and hold in a warm place.
• In the same saute pan, on the same temperature, add the spinach. It will quickly wilt. Finish the spinach with the remaining whole butter and season with salt and pepper.
• For presentation, serve this dish in a large soup bowl. Using a ladle, scoop a small amount of grits into the bottom of each bowl. Layer a small amount of spinach on the grits and finish with the sea bass. Garnish with fresh thyme.

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.