Pan-Seared Rockfish with a buttery lemon caper is an easy and delicious fish recipe that can be on your dinner table in less than thirty minutes. My rockfish recipe is one I used for years in the different restaurants I worked at. You can also use this method to cook other white fish fillets.
Tender Rockfish fillets, lightly dredged in seasoned flour, then seared in a butter olive oil mixture until golden brown. The cooking method and light sauce let the delicate flavors of that mild white fish shine through. Making it the perfect date night meal or when guests come over to dinner.
It’s one of my favorite ways to prepare this delicious fish.
I love cooking with Alaskan rockfish, it has a flaky texture and mild flavor, and it can be fried, broiled, grilled, pan-sauteed, and even cooked in an air fryer. It has a flavor somewhere between Cod and Halibut.
And if you’re wondering what else you can use rockfish for, It also makes delicious rockfish tacos!
Ingredients to make Pan-Seared Rockfish
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Pan Seared Rockfish with a lemon caper sauce. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Made with simple ingredients
- rockfish fillets
- unsalted butter
- fresh lemon juice
- all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- salt
- black pepper
- shallots
- capers
- Italian parsley
What is Rockfish?
Pacific Rockfish is a white-fleshed, mild-flavored fish with a delicate texture and a sweet and nutty taste. It’s also known as Alaskan rockfish, rock cod, red snapper, or Pacific red snapper and is a plentiful near-shore fish found on the west coast of North America. There are more than 70 types of rockfish, and they are part of the much larger fish genus of Sebass.
How to make Pan Seared Rockfish
The first step is to pat dry the rockfish with paper towels, then liberally season the fillets with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
*You can also season the rockfish filets with lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or your favorite spices.
Next, prepare the seasoned flour by adding ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper to all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour) to a shallow bowl.
Dredge the rockfish in the seasoned flour, coating both sides of the fillets.
How to cook the rockfish fillets
*Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. to use as a holding oven.
Prepare the large skillet (or a large nonstick skillet) by placing it over medium-high heat with one tablespoon of butter and one tablespoon of olive oil (or your favorite cooking oil).
Once the butter has melted, turn the temperature down to medium heat. Make sure not to let the butter/oil mixture get brown before adding fish to the hot pan.
*If you have a cast iron skillet, you use that to pan-sear the fish, it will add amazing color to the rockfish.
Place the floured rockfish fillets in the hot skillet, cooking on the first side for 3-4 minutes. Don’t be tempted to turn it over too soon; you want that delicious crunch and golden brown color that comes from not moving the fillets around.
Turn the rockfish over and continue to saute for another 3-4 minutes. When the pan-seared rockfish is fully cooked, place it on a baking sheet and into the preheated 250-degree oven while you make the lemon caper sauce.
Pan searing is one of my favorite ways to prepare fish. It really brings out the natural flavor and can be done in minutes.
How do I make Lemon Caper Sauce?
- Add the butter, shallots, and capers to another saute pan or medium saucepan over moderate heat. Saute for 1-2 minutes. Don’t let the butter burn!
- Add the lemon juice and either an ounce of white wine or chicken stock to the pan.
- When the liquids are hot, add one tablespoon of butter rolled in flour (beurre manie) to the pan. This will thicken the sauce.
*If the sauce gets too thick, add a little water, chicken broth, or if you want to take the sauce to the next level, a little heavy cream. You can even add your favorite fresh herbs to the sauce for extra flavor.
Serve the lemon caper pan sauce over this delicious pan-seared rockfish and garnish it with chopped parsley. You’re going to love the flaky texture of the rockfish, and I know you’ll agree that this is the best pan-seared rock fish recipe you’ve ever tried.
Serve the rockfish with wild rice, or your favorite grain along with your favorite green vegetable for a delicious healthy dinner the whole family will love.
Recipe FAQ’s
Make sure the pan is hot before you add the fish to the pan will ensure that the fish will not stick and will give you a perfect flavorful crust. Heat your pan on medium-high heat, then add a small amount of oil and butter. When the oil and butter start to shimmer, add the fish to the pan.
Yes, you can.
While flour is generally the first choice for pan-searing fish, you can use finely ground cornmeal instead. To create that crunchy exterior we love, dip the fish in milk or beaten eggs before dredging the fillets in cornmeal.
Rockfish is a mild whitefish that is somewhere between Cod and Halibut. Like most whitefish, rockfish has a flaky texture and mild flavor. It’s perfect fried, broiled, grilled or pan-sauteed. It also makes delicious rockfish tacos!
More Recipes You’ll Love!
Pan Seared Rockfish Recipe
Ingredients
Rockfish
- 14 ounce rockfish 2 fillets
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Lemon Butter Sauce
- 1 tablespoon shallots finely chopped – optional
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1-2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1-2 ounces white wine or chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon flour to roll butter in
- 1 teaspoon Italian parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Pat rockfish fillets dry with paper towels and season them liberally with sea salt and black pepper.
- Dredge the rockfish filets in all-purpose flour, getting a good coating on both sides.*Gluten-free flour can be substituted.
- In a large saute pan (or cast iron pan) add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Heat over medium-high until the butter is melted. Lower the heat to medium.*Don't let the butter get brown.
- Place the floured rockfish in the hot pan, cooking on the first side for 3-4 minutes. Don’t be tempted to turn it over too soon, you want that delicious crunch and golden brown color that comes from not moving the fillets around.
- Turn the rockfish over and continue to saute for another 3-4 minutes. When the pan-seared rockfish is fully cooked, place it on a baking sheet and into a preheated 250-degree oven while you make the lemon caper sauce.
- Add the butter, shallots and capers, to a saute pan or medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute for 1-2 minutes. Don’t let the butter burn!
- Add the lemon juice and either an ounce of white wine or chicken stock to the pan.
- When the liquids are hot, add 1 tablespoon of butter rolled in flour (beurre manie) to the pan. This will thicken the sauce.
- Serve the lemon caper sauce over the pan-seared rockfish. garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy!
Notes
While flour is generally the first choice for pan-searing fish, you can use finely ground cornmeal instead. To create that crunchy exterior we love, dip the fish in milk or beaten eggs before dredging the fillets in cornmeal.
Nancy Sims
This recipe is delicious! I didn’t have any capers so I looked up substitutions and decided on chopped green olives. I thought it worked well but I do love olives!
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the rockfish and olives are a great substitute.
Liz Rising
delicious recipe! had to order Rockfish online from Alaskan fish because it’s not available here. I added 1/4 cup cream to the sauce instead of wine/stock because we prefer creamy sauces. I mashed capers as hubby claims he hates capers but when mashed he has no clue!!. Absolutely divine!! Served w/ baby new pots, green beans & cauliflower.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the rockfish. Good move mashing the capers. I’ve done the same with ingredients that my wife says she doesn’t like.
L. merrick
Our go-to recipe for rockfish!
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you’ve been enjoying my rockfish recipe!
Christina
This is the second time I have made this and I had to triple the recipe because my teenagers need seconds. I have not changed a thing. The tang from the lemon and salt from the capers make this sauce amazing. The fish cooks perfectly and I might have to quadruple it next time. I hardly ever leave reviews but this recipe deserves one because it is perfect as is !
Chef Dennis Littley
Wow, I love hearing that! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and the great review!
Dana
My husband ad I love this recipe. This is the second time I have made it and after seeing your comment about trying other spices like lemon pepper, I think I will try that next time. I see a few other recipes on your website I think I want to try. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you’ve been enjoying my rockfish recipe. It’s one of my favorites!
Micada
Absolute fire!! Thank you so much.
I made this with quinoa and green beans on the side. 10/10.
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my rockfish recipe! I hope you find more recipes on my website to try.
Annette
Absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious! My guests said it’s a keeper! So far every recipe I’ve made from Chef Dennis has been outstanding.
kim
Have made this a couple times and it is beautiful! My teens love it as well. For sure going to be in my dinner rotation.
Sally Rice
Such an easy step by step recipe with great flavor. This recipe is a definite keeper. I served it with rice and asparagus. This was a quick recipe to have on the table.
ST
Prepped everything except the fish ahead so by the time i was ready to cook it went very fast. Delicious, quick and easy. This is a keeper.
Kristina
Very yummy. Though my sauce broke at the end so I’m not sure what happened. I probably added a little too much butter so my fat to flour ratio was likely off.
Chef Dennis Littley
it might have been too much butter, but if your sauce ever breaks, add a little cold water or small piece of ice to the sauce and it will come back
Kathy P.
I just made this with fresh Black Drum, and it was delicious!
My butter did turn black however, is that normal because it’s medium high heat?
The coating on the fish was dark, but no burnt flavor.
Chef Dennis Littley
Your stovetop may run a little hotter; next time turn the temperature down a little. You want it to be hot enough so the fish isn’t greasy but not so hot that it gets too dark. Some color on the fish is good.
Kathy
sounds great can you make ahead and warm in oven to serve
Chef Dennis Littley
you can sear the fish ahead of time, but it cannot be precooked, it will ruin the fish. To finish cooking place the seared fish in a baking dish with some a little water or white wine. Place the baking dish in a 350 degree preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. The sauce can be done ahead of time, but it will take as long to fix it after it sits as it will to make it while the fish is in the oven
Kathy
thanks will try it
Sheryl
Amazing. Great flavor easy to put together.. husband loved it will make again.
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the Rockfish, it’s one of my favorites! I hope you find more recipes on my website to try.
Deborah in the Desert :)
I’d never heard of ROCK FISH so when my husband brought it home I had to look up a recipe. I picked this one. I see why it had 5 Stars out of 5 reviews; now 6 out of 6!!! Easy, delicious, inexpensive. I served with lemon couscous and fresh green beans. We both LOVED it.