Grilled sea bass with rosemary

Rosemary goes extremely well with sea bass.  Fresh sea bass is always delicious but with the rosemary, it can be even better.  The sauce made with the bones and head give it another lift up – and nothing is wasted.

It makes a lovely supper dish or, particularly if much of the preparation is done in advance, a dinner party starter

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

Cooking Time: 40 Mins

Total Time: 70 Mins

Ingredients

For 2 servings…

2                    Sea bass   

60 gms            Butter  - melted       

                     Pepper  - freshly ground, black 

                     Salt          

24 small sprigs    

                     Rosemary  

10 cl               Stock  - fish

For fish stock

230 gms          Fish bones and head  

1                    Onion  - diced         

1                    Carrot  - diced        

½                   Leek  - chopped      

1 stick             Celery  - chopped     

1 clove            Garlic  - unpeeled     

3 sltalks           Parsley     

6                    Peppercorns           

70 ml              Wine  - white          

30 cl               Water       

Method

Fillet the fish and use the bones and head to make a fish stock

For the fish stock…

Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil and simmer gently for ½ hour.  Strain and use as required.

To cook the dish…

With the point of a knife, make 6 small incisions in the flesh of each fillet at regular intervals - cutting right through to the skin at an angle.  Place a sprig of rosemary into each incision and then arrange the fish on a buttered grill tray.  Season well and brush with the melted butter.  Cook, skin side upmost, under a hot grill, basting with the butter and juices for 4-5 minutes.  Remove to a serving dish, reserving the cooking juices and keep warm.

Boil the fish stock in a small saucepan and add the cooking juices from the bass.  Reduce slightly over a high heat and then strain over the fish.

Variations

Instead of rosemary, sage or fresh mint can be used.

Wine recommendations

A white wine.

Conventional

     Chablis

Interesting

     Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur lie

     Savennières

     Silvaner

Special

     Meursault

     Savigny-Lès-Beaune blanc