Easy, Perfect Barramundi Recipe
This Easy, Perfect Barramundi Recipe has all the perks of a healthy, seafood dinner and comes together in just 20 minutes. Made with a lemon, butter sauce and garnished with fresh basil, this vibrant meal will be a new favorite!
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For Lemon Butter Mixture
- 2 TB butter, salted, softened
- 2 TB garlic, freshly minced
- 1 TB basil, packed, freshly chopped
- 1 TB lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 TB lemon zest
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
For the Fish
- 2-4 TB olive oil
- 4 barramundi fillets, 1/2" thick, 5-6 oz. each*
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- Freshly chopped basil
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Make Lemon Butter Mixture: in a small pan, combine all Lemon Butter Mixture ingredients. Heat sauce just until bubbly, stirring often. Once bubbly, turn heat off and keep warm.
- Use clean paper towels to pat-dry all excess moisture from the fish fillets. This step is important to proper cooking, so be sure to dab off as much moisture as you can. Evenly sprinkle top of fillets with a thin layer of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- In a large pan* heat 2 TB olive oil over high heat. Once oil is smoking and sizzling hot, carefully add 2 of the fish fillets, skin side down, and let cook undisturbed for 3 minutes – do not move fish around.
- Use large metal spatula to carefully flip fish fillets over for another 3 minutes, without moving fish around. Gently lift cooked fish onto a serving plate and keep warm. Repeat with other 2 fish fillets.
- Just before serving, re-warm the Lemon Butter Mixture if needed, and evenly distribute over the fish fillets. Serve with freshly chopped basil and lemon slices for garnish.
Notes
- Barramundi fillets tend to be thinner than other fish, so try to get fillets that are as close to ½” thick throughout.
- You can substitute freshly chopped chives for basil.
- Be sure to use kosher salt, as kosher salt is much less salty per volume than fine table salt.
- Use an oil splatter guard to prevent hot oil from splattering during cooking.
- Use a large metal spatula for easy flipping of fish fillets.
- We use a large cast iron pan for nice, even browning.
- Serve with a fresh, colorful Caprese Salad or any crisp salad that you like. This dish pairs well with rice and potatoes or orzo.
- If you want a bit more color on the plate, garnish with sliced cherry tomatoes.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ❤️
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 203IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.2mg