As a Chef, I always look for new items to try for dinner when food shopping. And this week my grocer was featuring Black Sea Bass that looked too good to pass up.
Black Sea Bass often referred to as Rock Bass is found in the waters of Florida, off the Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic all the way up to Maine.
Its flesh is firm and lean, with a mild, delicate flavor. Make sure the uncooked flesh is sparkling white and translucent, not opaque. Remember fresh fish should only smell like the sea, not fishy.
I was pretty sure we would enjoy the sea bass but just to be on the safe side I topped it with jumbo shrimp finished in a lemon scampi sauce (you really can’t go wrong with that topping). The Sea Bass was tender and flaky with a mild sweet flavor, and the lemon butter sauce with those delectable shrimp took the sea bass to the next level!
If you can’t find Black Sea Bass, this topping would work well on any white flaky fish, turning even Tilapia into a memorable meal or even without the fish served over pasta.
Can I use other fish for this dish?
Yes, you can. This lemon scampi sauce can also be made with or without shrimp.
Some of the other fish I would use this sauce with are:
- Flounder
- Cod
- Tilapia
- Mahi-mahi
- Red snapper
or just about any mild white-fleshed fish.
Fish is an excellent source of protein and is a good alternative to red meat. We try to eat fish at least once a week in our house and finding new ways to serve it is always fun. This topping can be used on many of your favorite fish and even chicken, so have fun experimenting.
If you liked this recipe you might also enjoy these fish recipes:
- Blackened Salmon with a Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
- Pan Seared Halibut
- Garlic Ginger Swordfish Recipe
- Grilled Atlantic Rockfish
Black Sea Bass with Shrimp in a Lemon Scampi Sauce
Ingredients
- 12-14 ounces black sea bass fillets
- 6 16-20 count shrimp Peeled and deveined Peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 clove garlic – finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice more or less depending upon your likes
- splash of white wine
- 2 ounces vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon of butter rolled in flour
- ½ teaspoon Italian parsley – finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Place sea bass fillets in a baking pan and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper. add a little water to the pan to help keep the sea bass moist
- Roast Sea Bass for 15-20 minutes
- In a sauté pan add olive oil and chopped garlic, when the garlic starts to cook add the shrimp.
- Turn the shrimp over and add the capers.
- When shrimp are almost fully cooked add a splash of white wine.
- Add stock, lemon juice and butter rolled in flour.
- As the sauce begins to thicken up add chopped parsley, remove from heat and serve over plated Black Sea Bass fillets.
- Garnish with sliced lemon and serve with your favorite sides.
Hull
Fantastic. I’ve made it at least 4 times since New England fishing season started in June. I’ve made it with sea bass and blackfish. 5star restaurant worthy 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Mayra
The recipe was very good but my sauce didn’t thicken the way it shows on the video. I will say I didn’t have veg stock so used more wine. Could this have been the difference?
I will try it again.
Chef Dennis Littley
the wine would affect the overall flavor and alcohol doesn’t thicken the way stock will. It could very well have been the wine, or you may have needed more flour pushed into the butter when you thickened the sauce.
Nicole
I doubled the sauce and added tomatoes to it, so it would pair well with angel hair pasta. I was delicious! I can’t wait to make it again.
Mike Walsh
If you hadn’t said that you were developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes, I’d feel like it was disingenuous to say how easy and quick this was to make. But it was awesome! And the ingredients were readily available. I’ve become a big fan of your web site. Not only are the recipes I’ve tried all fantastic, the site is easy to navigate. and you’ve had something for everything I’ve tried to find so far. Thank you!
Mike Walsh
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks for the comment and great review Mike! I’m very happy to hear you’ve been enjoying my blog and recipes
Wanda
I made this for my hubby for Father’s Day. It was amazing!!!
I will be making this again!!!!
Christine Partridge
Loved this dish. Husband said he looks forward to having it again. Delicious 😋
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks for the great review and I’m very happy to hear your husband enjoyed the dish!
Rosemary
Divine. This looks amazing. With restaurants not opened this is the perfect way to elevate home cooking. Thanks for sharing the various fish options. I’m going to have to make this soon!!
Bohemian Babushka
At this point, it would surprise Babushka if there was a recipe of yours she didn’t pin. Gracias for another good one.
Ruth I
This dish looks classy and expensive! I would give this a try, yum!
Cherise Kachelmuss
This looks awesome as I just told my husband we need to eat more fish but I am clueless about cooking it. I also just found a jar of capers that I didn’t know what to use on!
Kathy
This sounds like a great recipe. I have never had anything like it before either. I’m always interesting in trying out something new. I bet it’s delicious.
Lynndee
The seafood lover in me is drooling. I haven’t tried preparing a dish with capers before, though. I can’t wait to try this.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
This is such a perfect timing! I am planning to prepare something special for my husband this dinner. This lack Sea Bass looks really delicious and satisfying!
Catalina
Such a fancy and delicious dish! I should make this for my husband for our romantic dinner!
Lizzie Lau
Your shrimp and lemon scampi sauce sounds delicious. I always have mahi in the freezer, so I’m going to try it out later this week.