Chilka Style Pan Seared Black Bass Recipes

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.

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.

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.