Pan-Seared Fish Bowl (Print View)

Tender white fish over fluffy rice with roasted vegetables and zesty lemon sauce.

# Components:

→ Fish

01 - 4 white fish fillets (150 g each), such as cod, halibut, or tilapia
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Rice

05 - 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice
06 - 2 cups water
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

08 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
09 - 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
10 - 1 small red onion, sliced
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - Salt and pepper to taste
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano

→ Lemon Sauce

15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
17 - Juice and zest of 1 lemon
18 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, toss zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 18-20 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
03 - Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
05 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, zest, parsley, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
06 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each portion with roasted vegetables and a seared fish fillet. Drizzle lemon sauce over the top and garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, which means you can make it on a Tuesday without feeling like youve run a marathon.
  • The lemon sauce is so bright and garlicky that it makes even the simplest vegetables taste like something special.
  • You get protein, carbs, and vegetables all in one bowl, so theres no need to fuss with side dishes.
  • Leftovers taste incredible the next day, especially if you warm everything separately and assemble it fresh.
02 -
  • Dont skip drying the fish before you season it, or it will steam instead of sear and you wont get that beautiful golden crust.
  • Let the rice rest covered after cooking so the steam finishes the job and you get perfectly fluffy grains instead of sticky clumps.
  • If your garlic starts to brown in the lemon sauce, pull it off the heat immediately because burnt garlic tastes bitter and will ruin the whole thing.
03 -
  • Use a fish spatula if you have one because the thin, flexible edge slides under delicate fillets without tearing them apart.
  • Add a splash of white wine to the lemon sauce if you want it to taste more luxurious, and let it simmer for 30 seconds to cook off the alcohol.
  • If your fish fillets are uneven in thickness, fold the thinner tail end under itself before searing so everything cooks at the same rate.
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