Pan-Roasted Lemon Thyme Sea Bass with Fresh Herbs

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place an oven-safe pan (like a cast iron skillet) or a baking sheet in the oven to preheat. This helps achieve a nice sear.
2. 2

   Pat the sea bass fillets very dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
3. 3

   In the hot pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Arrange about half of the lemon slices, a third of the fresh thyme sprigs, and the sliced garlic. Let them sizzle for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. 4

   Carefully place the seasoned sea bass fillets on top of the lemon and thyme in the pan. Drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil over the fish.
5. 5

   Place the remaining lemon slices, thyme sprigs, and garlic on top of and around the fish fillets.
6. 6

   Transfer the pan to the preheated oven. Roast for 12-18 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets, or until the fish is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork. If using, halfway through cooking, you can add an optional splash of white wine or broth to the pan for extra moisture.
7. 7

   Once cooked, remove the pan from the oven. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice and sprinkle the lemon zest over the hot fish. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil before serving immediately.