Best 5 Salt Baked Striped Bass With Herbs And Lemon Recipes
In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes can rival the exquisite flavors and aromas of salt baked striped bass. This time-honored cooking technique, rooted in ancient culinary traditions, elevates the delicate flesh of striped bass to a symphony of flavors, expertly balanced by a fragrant blend of herbs and the refreshing zest of lemon. As the salt crust forms a protective barrier, it seals in the natural juices of the fish, resulting in a moist and succulent interior that yields to the slightest touch of a fork. Prepared with care and precision, salt baked striped bass is a masterpiece of culinary artistry that promises to tantalize the taste buds and leave an indelible mark on your culinary repertoire.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
SALT-BAKED STRIPED BASS
Baking in salt is a sneaky way of splitting the difference between steaming and roasting. The layer of coarse salt and egg whites is there to seal in moisture. Heat causes the salt to form a hard crust, which, when cracked open, reveals a succulent bass, infused with ginger and lemongrass.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together salt, whites, and water in a bowl. Season inside of fish with pepper, and stuff with half the ginger and lemongrass. Season outside of fish with pepper. Place remaining ginger and lemongrass on top of fish. Scatter one-quarter of salt mixture on the bottom of an oval baking dish or a baking sheet to form a bed for the fish. Lay fish on top of salt, and pat remaining salt mixture tightly over top to cover entire surface, including head, leaving tail exposed.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Crack open salt crust using a spoon, exposing the fish. Transfer to a serving plate, and serve with lime wedges.
SALT-BAKED STRIPED BASS WITH HERBS AND LEMON
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, striped bass is a sustainable seafood selection that is good for you and good for the oceans. Try it baked in a simple salt mixture for a light, fresh dinner.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together salt and egg whites until well combined. Spoon 3 cups of the salt mixture on prepared baking sheet to make a bed for the fish. Place fish on top of salt mixture and place half of the dill, parsley, and lemon inside the cavity of fish. Top fish with remaining dill, parsley, and lemon; cover with remaining salt mixture, mounding on top and keeping the shape of the fish, leaving the tail exposed.
- Transfer fish to oven and bake until salt becomes light golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Using the back of a spoon, gently crack salt crust to expose fish; brush off remaining salt and transfer to a serving platter. Serve immediately with remoulade.
STRIPED BASS IN SALT DOME
Steps:
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cover the bottom of a baking sheet large enough to hold the fish with parchment paper.
- Rinse fish inside and out with cold water and drain. Dry with paper towels. Stuff body cavity with herbs and citrus, saving a few lemon slices for garnish. Set aside.
- Pour 1 box of salt into a large bowl, add egg whites and water, then the second box of salt. Use your hands to work mixture to a mortar-like consistency. Lay down a 1/2-inch thick bed for the fish to lay on with a 1-inch clearance on all sides. Lay the fish on this bed and pile the remainder of the salt mortar on top. Work into a smooth dome completely encasing the fish. (Don't worry if the head or tail poke out a little.)
- Cook approximately 35 minutes. Check for doneness by pushing the probe of an instant read thermometer through the salt into the fish. When temperature reaches 130 degrees, remove from oven, and rest at room temperature for 5 minutes. Open the fish at the table by hitting the dome several times with a small hammer and lifting off the slabs of salt. Brush away any stray salt. Gently pull out dorsal (back) fin. Using a fish knife or serrated pie server, make a single incision all the way down the back of the fish and around the gill plate. Then lift the skin off working from the head to the tail. Remove meat from top side of fish, going down one side of the spine then the other. Grasp the tail and remove the skeleton, (it should come up intact). The meat revealed below will slide right off the skin.
- Sprinkle meat with a little virgin oil and lemon juice. Serve immediately.
BAKED SEA BASS IN HERBED SALT CRUST
Steps:
- Rinse sea bass under cold water and pat dry inside and out. Sprinkle cavity of bass with 1/2 teaspoon tarragon and pepper.
- With a sharp knife trim ends of lemon to expose flesh and, standing lemon on one end, cut from top to bottom to remove peel and pitch. Cut lemon crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange in cavity.
- Preheat oven to 450°F. and lightly oil a baking pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together remaining 2 tablespoons tarragon, coarse salt, and flour. Stir in 1 cup warm water plus additional as necessary to form a slightly stiff paste (paste should resemble wet sand).
- Arrange bass in oiled pan. Coat top of bass completely with half of salt mixture, patting it on, and turn bass over. Coat other side in same manner (bass should be completely covered).
- Bake bass in middle of oven 30 minutes. Crack salt crust with a sharp knife or hammer and remove top crust, discarding it. To serve,lift bass in pieces off bones and discard bones. Lift out remaining bass. Serve bass with lemon wedges.
PAN-FRIED STRIPED BASS WITH LEMON SAUCE
Pan-frying is best for thinner fillets and steaks, or for whole fish that are no more than 1 inch thick. Season the fish with salt and pepper and other seasonings such as chopped fresh herbs or crushed spices as desired. For skinless fillets, heat a heavy sauté or frying pan until quite hot; add just enough oil, clarified butter, or a mix of oil and whole butter to cover the bottom of the pan. Carefully add the fish and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes (4 to 5 minutes for whole fish) and then turn. Cook for another 3 minutes and test for doneness. Remove the fish from the pan when it is just slightly underdone, as it will continue cooking in the residual heat. When cooking fish with skin, add more fat to the pan, about 1/8 inch deep. Put the fish into the pan skin side down. The skin will shrink while it cooks, pulling the fish up from the bottom of the pan. To keep the skin next to the hot pan (which is necessary to crisp it), weigh the fillets down with a foil-wrapped skillet that is slightly smaller than the one used for the cooking. This will hold the fillets fl at and ensure even crisping of the skin. Cook the fillets on their skin for the majority of the time, about 5 to 7 minutes, depending on their thickness, then turn them and cook on the flesh side for just another minute or two, or until done. Remember that the pan must be quite hot before the fish is added; this will keep it from sticking. Also, don't crowd the fish or it will sweat and give off liquid, ruining any chances of browning and crisping. Lastly, don't overcook the fish. A quick pan sauce can be made aft er you have removed the fish and poured off the cooking fat. Add tomato sauce to the hot pan and stir in all the brown bits left on the pan for added flavor, or deglaze the hot pan with wine or lemon juice and finish with a swirl of butter or extra-virgin olive oil and a handful of herbs. Add a handful of toasted nuts for flavor and texture. The striped bass fishery, once endangered, has fully recovered and is now flourishing. This fish is especially delicious with its skin left on and sautéed until brown and crispy.
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- For the sauce, whisk together: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
- Taste for salt and lemon juice and adjust as desired. The sauce will separate as it sits; this is not a problem.
- Season: 4 pieces striped bass, skin on (4 to 6 ounces each) with: Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
- Choose a heavy-bottomed pan for frying the fish. Take another, slightly smaller pan that will fit into the pan for the fish, and wrap its bottom with foil. This pan will be used as a weight to hold the fish flat against the frying pan to ensure that all of the skin will cook and crisp. (You will see the fish contract when it goes into the hot pan, as the skin shrinks on contact with the heat.) Warm the larger pan over medium-high heat. When hot, pour in: Olive oil, enough to generously coat the bottom.
- Add the pieces of bass, skin side down, and place the foil-wrapped pan on top of the fish. Cook until the skin is brown and crispy, about 7 minutes. Check now and then to see that the fish is indeed browning, but not overbrowning. Adjust the heat up or down to speed up or slow down the cooking as needed. When the skin is browned, remove the top pan and turn the fish. Cook for another minute or so, until the fish is just cooked through, but is still moist and tender inside. Meanwhile whisk the lemon sauce together again and pour it onto a warm plate. Serve the fish skin side up, on top of the sauce.
- Garnish the fish with a couple spoonfuls of chopped tender herbs such as parsley, chives, chervil, cilantro, or basil.
- Soak, rinse, and squeeze dry a tablespoon or so of capers. When the fish is cooked add the capers to the hot pan and sauté for a minute or two. Remove with a slotted spoon and scatter over the fish.
- Make a Beurre Blanc (Warm Butter Sauce; page 228) instead of the olive oil sauce.
Tips for the Perfect Salt-Baked Striped Bass:
- Selecting the Fish: Choose a fresh, whole striped bass weighing around 2 to 3 pounds. Ensure the fish is properly cleaned and gutted before cooking.
- Preparing the Salt Crust: Use a combination of coarse sea salt and fine sea salt for the salt crust. The coarse salt provides texture, while the fine salt ensures even seasoning. Add herbs, lemon zest, and peppercorns to enhance the flavor of the crust.
- Creating a Proper Seal: When wrapping the fish in the salt crust, press the salt firmly against the fish to create a tight seal. This prevents the salt from falling off during baking and ensures even cooking.
- Baking Temperature and Time: Bake the salt-crusted fish at a high temperature (400°F) for the first 20 minutes to create a crispy crust. Then, reduce the temperature to 350°F and continue baking for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
- Resting the Fish: After baking, let the fish rest for 10-15 minutes before breaking the salt crust. This allows the fish to redistribute its juices and ensures a moist and flaky texture.
Conclusion:
Salt-baked striped bass is a stunning dish that combines simple ingredients with elegant presentation. By following the tips and techniques outlined in this article, you can achieve a perfectly cooked fish with a crispy crust and moist, flavorful flesh. Serve it with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad, to complete this delightful meal. Whether you're hosting a special occasion dinner or simply looking to impress your family and friends, this salt-baked striped bass recipe is sure to be a hit.
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