Chilean Sea Bass with Citrus-Soy Reduction

in Asian & Indian, Citrus, Pineapple, Seafood, Valentine’s Day

Chilean Sea Bass with Citrus-Soy Reduction

I turned my back for just a second to discuss the advantages of starting fantasy football’s favorite Baby Daddy at quarterback and the next thing I know, I’m getting fish for dinner. Out of a menu chock-full of pastas at a fabulous Italian restaurant, my husband ordered fish. (No, he was not ill.)

I don’t really do fish. I’ve only ever cooked it three times. I grew up in the south, where fish for dinner meant deep-fried, cornmeal-battered, fishy-tasting catfish. I personally lump catfish and organ meat in the “I’d rather starve” category. Eventually, the “just say no to filters and bottom feeders” mentality spread to all cooked fish (but I could eat sushi every single day for breakfast… go figure). And then the waiter brought the Chilean sea bass to the table.

I swear I could hear a chorus of portly, never-skipped-dessert angels singing after that first bite. The inevitable happened – I tried to deflect my husband’s requests to make sea bass at home but he suckered me in by selecting a recipe that sent me running for my big, new HEB: a simple Asian-inspired marinade from Bon Appetit served as a reduction over rice.

Chilean Sea Bass with Citrus-Soy Reduction

The reduction is salty and sweet – a great flavor combination with the thick filet. It was almost too salty – I might reduce the amount of soy sauce by a couple of tablespoons next time. I also might lick the leftover sauce from the pan. We’re looking forward to making it again already!

Chilean Sea Bass with Citrus-Soy Reduction

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp peeled fresh ginger
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 2 Tbsp oriental sesame oil
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 4 6-oz sea bass fillets
  • 2 chopped green onions

Instructions

  1. Grate the fresh ginger with a microplane grater.
  2. Mix the ginger, orange and pineapple juices, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cayenne pepper in a 1-gallon zip-top bag. Squeeze bag to mix well.
  3. Add fish and chill 30 minutes inside a bowl large enough to accommodate the bag, shaking the bag occasionally.
  4. Preheat oven to 400.
  5. Place fish in a baking dish, skin side down, and pour in the marinade. Cover with foil and bake until the center of each fillet reaches 150 degrees (about 25 minutes). Transfer fish to plates.
  6. Strain marinade and place in a saute pan over high heat and reduce, reduce, reduce! Boil marinade until thickened enough to coat spoon, about 6-8 minutes; spoon over fish.
  7. Garnish with green onions and serve over rice.

Notes

Yields: 4 servings

Adapted from Bon Appetit, March 2002

Estimated time: 15 minutes

12 comments… add one
  • I love Sea Bass. Don’t feel bad, I rarely make fish at home because my hubby never eats it and then the whole house smells like it. This looks like a great recipe though.

  • This looks rather delicious. I do not often prepare fish at my house except in ceviche. But this sounds like it could make an interesting ceviche sauce! hmmm…

  • This looks soooo good. I love sea bass as a fish option in the winter because it’s heavier. THis looks so great and it’s plated so nicely!

  • One word… fantabulicious! (that’s a word, right?) I love sea bass, and this looks beautiful.

  • Mike

    Looks really tasty and I like what you did with the plating.

  • I have never had sea bass. It looks amazing and the sauce sounds really tasty!

  • this looks to die for! wow.

  • brilynn

    I love fish, this sounds perfect for me!

  • I wonder if this can convert my husband. He puts all fish in 1 of 2 categories – canned tuna (which I love) and ‘mouth full of bones’. He’s unlucky that way!
    I could lick this skillet!

  • This looks great. I have only had Sea Bass once – and definitely never made it. Hmmm…let me bookmark this for a future fish date…

  • Deborah

    We eat fish on a regular basis at my house, but I don’t think I’ve ever tried Sea Bass. I’ll have to give it a try, because this sounds amazing!

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