Seared Sea Bass With Fresh Herbs And Lemon Food

SEARED SEA BASS WITH FRESH HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Chop herbs. Using tweezers, remove any bones from sea bass. Pat fillets dry and score just through skin in 4 places. Diagonally cut each fillet in half and season with salt and pepper. In a heavy skillet heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sear fish, skin sides down, about 3 minutes, or until skin is golden. Turn fish over and cook 2 minutes more, or until just cooked through. Transfer fish to 2 plates. Remove skillet from heat and add wine to deglaze, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Stir in lemon juice, herbs, remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over fish.

BAKED SEA BASS WITH LEMON & HERBS (WITH TARATOR SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 230C/gas 8/fan210C. Pat the fish dry with kitchen paper, inside and out. Rub the skin with oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay three-quarters of the lemon slices on a heavy baking sheet and place the fish on top (see tip). Stuff the belly with the remaining lemon, the garlic and plenty of herbs, then season.
• Bake the fish for 30 minutes or until the flesh is opaque at its thickest part - slide a knife into the backbone area to heck.
• To serve, first gently peel the skin back, then lift off a chunk of the back fillet and a chunk of the belly to make one serving: each side should yield 2 portions. Use any lemon slices that are nicely brown, rather than jet-black, as a garnish.FOR THE TARATOR SAUCE
• Put the nuts in a food processor and whizz to a fine powder.Wet the bread, then squeeze out all the moisture. Crumble it into the nuts, add the garlic and whizz to combine thoroughly.
• Add the lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a good grinding of pepper. Start pouring the olive oil in through the feeder tube, in a steady, fine trickle. Once the oil is incorporated, the sauce will be very smooth but rather solid, so add enough water (or stock) to let the sauce down to a thick, creamy consistency.
• Finally, taste the sauce, adjust the seasoning and add a little more lemon juice if necessary.

BAKED SEA BASS WITH HERBS AND LIME

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6/400F/200°C
• Scale the fish well (ask your fishmonger to do it for you) and cut off the fins.
• Wash the fish thoroughly under cold running water and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Make slashes diagonally across the fish, about 4 cuts on each side.
• Place the fish in an oiled roasting tray and brush lightly with some of the oil.
• Grate the zest of 1 lime and squeeze the juice.
• In a bowl, mix the juice and zest with the chopped herbs, grated garlic and finely sliced red onion and stuff the mixture into the slashes.
• Cut the remaining 2 limes in 4s and place alongside the fish.
• Season the fish and lime with salt and freshly milled black pepper and drizzle over the remaining oil.
• Place the tray on the middle shelf of the oven for about 25-30 minutes (depends on the size of the fish) until the flesh feels just firm when pressed.
• If you want to double-check that the fish is cooked, part some of the flesh down to the bone and see if it flakes.
• Place the fish on a serving plate and pour the remaining juices from the tray onto the fish.
• To serve, place the roasted lime alongside the fish or you may want to squeeze the lime on the fish and then place the squeezed lime on the side for garnish!

ROASTED SEA BASS WITH HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450F.
• Lightly brush a baking sheet with olive oil and place fish fillets on baking sheet.
• Brush the fish with olive oil, then drizzle with lemon juice.
• Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper, then herbs.
• Bake fish about 10 minutes, just until opaque in center.
• Transfer fish to plates and spoon some herb sauce over the fillets.
• SAUCE Mix all ingredients in medium bowl.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• May be made one day ahead and refrigerated.
• Use at room temperature.