Baked stuffed sea bass

Sea bass is a name for a variety of fish species prized for their mild flavour, firm texture, and culinary versatility.  There are many ways of cooking sea bass – frying, grilling, steaming, etc.  They can be served whole, as fillets or as steaks.  In this recipe it is baked whole.  Again, there is a plethora of options for how the fish is prepared but in this recipe the flavour of the fish is enhanced with an herb-based stuffing.

It is an excellent dinner party or supper dish.

Preparation Time: 10 Mins

Cooking Time: 30 Mins

Total Time: 40 Mins

Ingredients

For 4 servings…

1                    Sea bass    

3 tbs               Olive oil    

1                    Leek  - small, white part         

2 cloves            Garlic  - chopped     

30 gms            Almonds  - toasted, chopped   

1 tbs               Parsley  - chopped    

1 tbs               Tarragon  - chopped 

1                    Lemon  - grated rind and juice of

1 glass             Wine  - dry white     

                     Pepper  - freshly ground, black 

                     Salt          

1 ox                Breadcrumbs  - dried 

Method

Heat an oven to 200°C.

Place the fish in an oiled baking dish.  Combine the leek, garlic, almonds, parsley and tarragon and stuff the cavity of the fish with this mixture.  Brush the fish with the remaining olive oil and pour over the lemon juice and white wine.  Sprinkle with the lemon rind and season well.  Then sprinkle over the breadcrumbs.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes - basting with the oil and juices halfway through the cooking time.

Wine recommendations

A robust white wine.

Conventional

     Chablis

Interesting

     Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur lie

     Savennières

     Silvaner

Special

     Meursault

     Savigny-Lès-Beaune blanc