Spring

Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Blueberry-Cucumber Salsa

June 17, 2017
5
1 Ratings
Photo by Mark Weinberg
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

A light, refreshing summer meal, festive enough for entertaining, simple enough for a weeknight.

Notes: If you're using an English cucumber, there's no need to seed it. You'll need about half (or less) than 1/2 English cucumber for this recipe. —Alexandra Stafford

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Ingredients
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup finely diced, peeled cucumbers (1/4- to 1/2-inch square), see notes above
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely minced to yield about 2 tablespoons
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cups finely chopped cilantro
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 4 6-ounce sea bass fillets, 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick
  • fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • Neutral oil for frying
Directions
  1. Combine the blueberries, cucumbers, red onion, 1 tablespoon jalapeño, 1/4 cup cilantro, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and the 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss gently with a large spoon. Taste. Add more jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and kosher salt to taste. Toss and taste again. Adjust as needed.
  2. Set a large sauté pan or grill pan over high heat. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Add a thin layer of oil to the pan. When it shimmers, carefully lower in the fillets. Reduce the heat to medium. Let the fish cook for two to three minutes undisturbed. Using a spatula, carefully nudge the fish to release it from the pan, then flip it. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, then transfer it to a serving plate. Spoon the blueberry salsa over top, and pass more on the side.

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I write the blog alexandra's kitchen, a place for mostly simple, sometimes fussy, and always seasonal recipes. My cookbook, Bread Toast Crumbs is available everywhere books are sold.

1 Review

cathy January 21, 2024
Excellent. Make the salsa!