
Seared Fish with Basil Lemon Butter, Silky Pea Potato Purée, and Sautéed Zucchini with Almonds
An original pan-seared fish dish finished with fragrant basil lemon butter. It is served over a smooth pea and potato purée, with sautéed zucchini and toasted almonds for a fresh, delicately crunchy contrast.
Important notice: This recipe is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional.
Ingredients
- 4 filetes, 680 g 680 g firm white fish fillets (como róbalo, bacalao fresh or halibut, skinless)
- 7 g 7 g salt (divided)
- 2 g 2 g black pepper (freshly ground, divided)
- 300 g 300 g potatoes (peladas and diced small)
- 220 g 220 g peas (fresh or congelados)
- 2 dientes, 8 g 8 g garlic (1 clove for the puree and 1 for the calabacitas)
- 45 ml 45 ml olive oil (divided)
- 45 g 45 g butter (divided)
- 12 g 12 g fresh basil (leaves sueltas, chopped finely)
- 1 pieza 1 piece lemon (2 tbsp de jugo, dividido)
- 80 ml 80 ml milk (for the puree)
- 300 g 300 g zucchini (en medias lunas)
- 35 g 35 g sliced almonds (unsalted)
- 500 ml 500 ml water (approx., for cocer the papas)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Place the potatoes in a saucepan with the water and 3 g of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until very tender. During the last 3 minutes, add the peas and 1 garlic clove.
- 2
2. Meanwhile, pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with 2 g of salt and 1 g of black pepper.
- 3
3. Toast the sliced almonds in a large skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until golden and fragrant. Remove and set aside.
- 4
4. In the same skillet, heat 15 ml olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, the remaining minced garlic clove, 1 g salt, and the rest of the black pepper. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the zucchini is tender but still firm. Add 15 ml lemon juice, toss, and remove from the heat. Stir in the toasted almonds just before serving.
- 5
5. Drain the potatoes, peas, and garlic. Blend or mash them with the milk, 15 g butter, 15 ml olive oil, half of the lemon zest, and 15 ml lemon juice until smooth and silky. Adjust salt if needed and keep warm.
- 6
6. In a small bowl, mix the remaining butter with the chopped basil and the rest of the lemon zest.
- 7
7. Heat another large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat with the remaining olive oil. Once hot, add the fillets and sear for 2 minutes on the first side and 1 minute on the second side.
- 8
8. Transfer the skillet to a preheated oven at 425°F / 220°C and bake for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until just cooked through and flaky.
- 9
9. Remove the skillet from the oven and immediately place some of the basil lemon butter on each fillet so it melts from the residual heat.
- 10
10. To serve, spoon the pea potato purée onto each plate, place the fish on top, and add the sautéed zucchini with almonds on the side.
Chef tips
For an extra-smooth purée, blend it while hot and pass it through a sieve. Do not overcook the fish; remove it as soon as it flakes to keep it moist.
Substitutions
You can use grouper, thick tilapia, or fresh cod instead of sea bass. The almonds can be replaced with pumpkin seeds if you want to avoid tree nuts, and the milk can be swapped for unsweetened plant-based milk if you need a dairy-free version, along with plant-based butter.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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