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Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Lemon-Herb Butter
$2.74 per serving, 10 minutes active time
Three Buck Suppers
September 22, 2025
Hey there!
You don’t need a restaurant to nail perfectly crisp-on-the-outside, flaky-on-the-inside sea bass. What’s the secret? A hot cast-iron skillet and a quick, lemon-infused herb butter baste that locks in moisture and adds bright flavor in seconds.
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Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Lemon-Herb Butter (Serves 2 — $2.74/serving)
Ingredient | Amount | Est. Cost* |
|---|---|---|
Sea bass fillets | 2 × 4 oz (0.5 lb) | $4.50 |
Unsalted butter | 2 tablespoons | $0.40 |
Fresh lemon juice | 1 tablespoon | $0.15 |
Garlic | 1 clove | $0.05 |
Fresh thyme leaves | 1 teaspoon | $0.10 |
Olive oil | 1 tablespoon | $0.20 |
Salt and pepper | to taste | $0.04 |
Total Cost: $5.44 for 2 servings = $2.72 per serving
Recipe (10 min active):
Pat & season: Dry fillets thoroughly; season both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat skillet: Warm a cast-iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add olive oil.
Sear fillets: Place fillets skin-side down. Press for 30 sec; cook 3 min until skin is crisp and golden. Flip and cook 2 min more.
Make herb butter: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter, minced garlic, thyme, and lemon juice. Tilt pan; spoon melted butter over fillets 1 min to baste.
Rest & serve: Transfer to plate; spoon remaining sauce over top and serve immediately.
The Secret Ingredient
Finishing in a fragrant lemon-thyme butter bath keeps the bass tender and infuses bright aroma in under a minute.
Pro tip: Dry the skin completely and press fillets into the pan to guarantee ultra-crispy skin every time.
Know someone still ordering takeout seafood? Forward this and give them a five-star kitchen win.
See you next week,
Andrew
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