Pan-Seared Fish in Luscious Lemon Butter Sauce
Indulge in this exquisite Pan-Seared Fish dish featuring your choice of fresh, flaky fish like flounder, cod, or trout, enveloped in a rich, zesty lemon butter sauce. Each bite is a delightful interplay of flavors, enhanced by the aromatic garlic, fresh herbs, and a hint of spice. This dish is not only quick, ready in under 15 minutes, but also pairs beautifully with a side of vibrant steamed vegetables and fluffy rice, making it a perfect weekday meal or an elegant dinner for guests.
N/A
Servings
720
Calories
22
Ingredients
Ingredients
dry white wine
1 cup (N/A)
lemon juice
1/2 cup (Freshly squeezed)
minced garlic
2 tablespoons (N/A)
shallot, minced
1 tablespoon (N/A)
salt
1 teaspoon (N/A)
black pepper
1/4 teaspoon (N/A)
Worcestershire sauce
1 dash (N/A)
hot pepper sauce
1 dash (N/A)
heavy cream
1/2 cup (N/A)
butter, room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) (N/A)
paprika
1/2 tablespoon (N/A)
salt
1/2 tablespoon (N/A)
garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon (N/A)
black pepper
1/4 tablespoon (N/A)
onion powder
1/4 tablespoon (N/A)
cayenne pepper
1/4 tablespoon (N/A)
dried oregano
1/4 tablespoon (N/A)
dried thyme
1/4 tablespoon (N/A)
flounder fillets (or cod)
2 lbs (N/A)
flour (or panko with chopped almonds)
1/2 cup (N/A)
olive oil
2 tablespoons (N/A)
fresh parsley
To taste (Chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Lemon Butter Sauce: In a large skillet over high heat, combine the dry white wine, lemon juice, minced garlic, and shallots. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 3 minutes until fragrant.
2
Lower the heat slightly and stir in the salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce. Continue to simmer until the mixture thickens and becomes slightly syrupy, approximately another 3 minutes.
3
Add the heavy cream to the mixture and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low, and gradually whisk in the butter, a few pats at a time, until completely incorporated and smooth. Keep the sauce warm on low heat until ready to serve.
4
Prepare the Fish: In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, additional salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme to create the fish spice blend.
5
Season both the fish fillets and the flour (or panko/almond mixture) with the spice blend, ensuring even coverage. Dredge the fish in the seasoned flour until completely coated.
6
In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the coated fish fillets to the pan. Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until the fish is golden brown and cooked through.
7
Plating: To serve, drizzle a generous amount of the luscious lemon butter sauce onto each plate. Place the perfectly pan-seared fish on top, and finish with an additional drizzle of sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color.
Nutrition Information
75g
Fat
14g
Carbs
16g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of fish is best for this pan-seared recipe?
The recipe recommends using fresh, flaky fish fillets such as flounder, cod, or trout.
How long does it take to prepare Pan-Seared Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce?
This dish is designed to be quick and can be ready in under 15 minutes.
What are the primary ingredients in the lemon butter sauce?
The sauce consists of dry white wine, lemon juice, minced garlic, shallots, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, heavy cream, and room temperature butter.
How do you make the lemon butter sauce?
Combine wine, lemon juice, garlic, and shallots in a skillet over high heat for 3 minutes. Add seasonings and simmer until syrupy. Stir in heavy cream, then gradually whisk in butter on low heat until smooth.
What spices are used to season the fish?
The fish spice blend includes paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, and dried thyme.
What can I use to coat the fish fillets?
You can use standard flour, or for a different texture, a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and chopped almonds.
What kind of oil should I use for searing?
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of olive oil to be heated in a large sauté pan.
How long should each fish fillet be cooked?
Cook the fish fillets for approximately 4 minutes on each side over medium heat until golden brown.
Is this fish recipe spicy?
It has a hint of spice due to the inclusion of cayenne pepper and a dash of hot pepper sauce in the recipe.
What side dishes pair well with this fish?
It pairs beautifully with vibrant steamed vegetables and fluffy rice.
How many calories are in a serving of this dish?
There are approximately 720 calories per serving of this pan-seared fish recipe.
How much protein is in this recipe?
The dish contains 16 grams of protein per serving.
What is the fat content of the Pan-Seared Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce?
The recipe contains 75 grams of fat per serving, largely due to the rich butter and cream sauce.
Can I use bottled lemon juice for the sauce?
The recipe recommends using 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
Do I need to mince the garlic and shallots?
Yes, the recipe specifies 2 tablespoons of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of minced shallot.
How much butter is needed for the sauce?
You will need 1 cup of butter, which is equivalent to 2 sticks.
What is the carbohydrate count for this recipe?
This dish contains 14 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
How much white wine is used in the sauce?
The recipe calls for 1 cup of dry white wine to build the base of the lemon butter sauce.
What herbs are used for garnishing?
Fresh chopped parsley is recommended for a pop of color and fresh flavor as a garnish.
Can I use cod instead of flounder?
Yes, cod is a perfect alternative for this recipe if flounder is not available.
What is the first step in preparing the sauce?
The first step is to combine the dry white wine, lemon juice, minced garlic, and shallots in a skillet over high heat.
Does the recipe use dried or fresh oregano and thyme?
The fish spice blend uses 1/4 tablespoon each of dried oregano and dried thyme.
Is heavy cream required for the sauce?
Yes, 1/2 cup of heavy cream is used to help thicken the sauce and add a luscious texture.
What is the suggested total weight of the fish fillets?
The recipe is written for 2 lbs of fish fillets.
Should the butter be cold when adding it to the sauce?
The recipe specifies that the butter should be at room temperature and added a few pats at a time.
What is the recommended heat setting for searing the fish?
The fish should be cooked over medium heat to ensure it browns without burning.
Can I use garlic powder in the sauce?
The recipe uses minced garlic for the sauce and garlic powder for the fish seasoning blend.
How do you plate this dish?
Drizzle the sauce onto the plate, place the fish on top, add another drizzle of sauce, and garnish with parsley.
Is this recipe suitable for guests?
Yes, the description notes it is an elegant dinner for guests as well as a quick weekday meal.
How much paprika is used in the seasoning?
The recipe calls for 1/2 tablespoon of paprika in the fish spice blend.