Pan-Seared Sea Bass Fillets with Buttered Cherry Tomatoes
Pan-seared sea bass fillets served with a delicious sauce of buttery cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, and fresh herbs. A simple Mediterranean-inspired dish that’s elegant enough for a special occasion and easy enough for a weeknight dinner

Pan-seared sea bass fillets served with a delicious sauce of buttery cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, and fresh herbs. A simple Mediterranean-inspired dish that's elegant enough for a special occasion and easy enough for a weeknight dinner
Info
Prep Time:
30mCook Time:
15mDifficulty Level:
Ingredients
- 4 sea bass fillets, skin-on
- 4-5 fresh sage leaves
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 4 garlic cloves, skin-on, roasted in oil
- 17½ oz (500 g) plum cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
Roast the garlic: Wrap the garlic cloves in aluminum foil and roast at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes. Alternatively, roast the unpeeled garlic cloves covered in olive oil.
Allow the garlic to cool, then squeeze the cloves from their skins to extract the soft garlic paste. Add the sage and thyme, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent.
Add the halved cherry tomatoes, butter, and roasted garlic mixture. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes begin to soften and the sauce becomes rich and buttery.
Lightly score the skin of each sea bass fillet. Brush with a very small amount of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Heat a clean skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Place the sea bass fillets skin-side down in the hot pan.
Cook for 4-5 minutes, until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip the fillets and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
Divide the warm buttery cherry tomatoes among four plates. Place a sea bass fillet on top of each portion, skin-side up.
Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
For beautifully crisp skin, pat the sea bass completely dry with paper towels before seasoning, and resist the urge to move the fillets while the skin is searing.
