Sea bass is one of my top ten fish. Even people who don’t like fish may love sea bass. It’s a tender, white fish with a buttery taste.
Sea bass flakes like haddock and tastes like cod or grouper. It’s not “fishy-tasting” at all. It is the perfect canvas for any flavor profile you want to express.
What are the best side dishes to serve with sea bass? I’ve scoured my recipes and assembled a list of 18 fantastic sides for you to try. You’ll be set up for an excellent meal no matter which side dish you choose.
Great Sides for Sea Bass
1. Sweet Potato Fries
2. Quinoa Salad
3. Roasted Carrots and Dill
4. Avocado Lime Rice
5. Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
6. Couscous Salad
7. Mango Salsa
8. Cauliflower Mash
9. Instant Pot Risotto
10. Asparagus Cucumber Herb Salad
11. Caprese Salad
12. Potato Gratin
13. Citrus Rice
14. Panzanella Salad
15. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
16. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
17. Roasted Beets
18. Corn and Tomato Salad
Sweet Potato Fries
Sometimes a light, crispy French fry is all you want with sea bass. Try making sweet potato fries in a nod to fish and chips. Sweet potatoes have much more nutritional value than white potatoes.
You can choose from traditional thin-cut fries or hearty wedges. Season them generously after they come out of the oven or deep fryer. Serve the fries with garlic aioli for dipping.
Quinoa Salad
Like sea bass, quinoa is a blank canvas for so many flavors. Be creative with your combinations. I like to use red onion, cucumber, grated carrots, bell peppers, dried berries, chickpeas, and a Dijon mustard dressing with my quinoa. You can add pepitas or pine nuts for a crunch factor.
Roasted Carrots and Dill
It’s easy to get fresh carrots year round, so this side dish is appropriate for the wintertime. It couldn’t be simpler: roast your seasoned carrots in olive oil with dill.
This simple side dish is a French classic. Try drizzling honey over the carrots if you want to up the flavor.
Avocado Lime Rice
Try avocado lime rice if you’re looking for something light and healthy with Mexican flavors. It tastes like guacamole but with fewer calories and fat.
Mix nutty brown rice with avocado and lime dressing. The rich flavor of cumin brings a touch of Mexico to the dish. Mix in chopped cilantro for an herby bite.
Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
Grilled vegetable kabobs are tasty any time, but especially in the summer. Take advantage of the variety of summer veggies from the farmer’s market and your garden.
One tip that I like to keep in mind when making kabobs is to keep each kind of vegetable on its own kabob. Vegetables have very different cooking times, and if you arrange multiple types on one kabob, you may have undercooked or overcooked food on your hands.
Couscous Salad
If you feel like going Mediterranean with your sea bass meal, a couscous salad would be a tasty accompaniment.
This salad is excellent on its own as a vegetarian dish, but it complements sea bass’s mild flavor very well. Mix Israeli couscous with chickpeas, dill, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and olive oil. Add crumbled feta for a touch of creaminess and salt.
Mango Salsa
Mango salsa wakes up the flavors of sea bass. The fish’s mild flavor will harmonize with the tangy taste of the salsa. Add red onion and tomato to your ripe mango. You could also add a little cubed avocado for richness.
Cauliflower Mash
If you love mashed potatoes but are watching your carbs, a cauliflower mash is a beautiful low-carb option. In addition to being low in carbs, cauliflower also packs more nutritional punch than a regular potato, with vitamin C and calcium.
Low-carb doesn’t have to mean flavorless. You could make your mashed cauliflower dish keto using coconut milk instead of dairy milk.
Instant Pot Risotto
Everyone loves risotto’s cheesy, creamy taste, but most people don’t love stirring for half an hour to 45 minutes to make it. Luckily, you can make fantastic risotto in your Instant Pot.
Any flavor combination works in a risotto, but I like shiitake mushrooms and Parmesan cheese with sea bass.
Asparagus Cucumber Herb Salad
This vibrant salad will wake up your taste buds. Blanch the asparagus first for best results. Mix with chopped English cucumber. Add a dressing with red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard. Finally, sprinkle on chopped chervil and chives.
Caprese Salad
Pair sauteed sea bass with a classic Caprese salad for an Italian night. Get the best fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, along with fresh basil. If you can, check the farmer’s market for both ingredients.
After combining the tomato and cheese, layer them with basil and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Add salt and pepper. This dish is so flavorful.
Potato Gratin
To dress up your sea bass, try serving it with a luxurious potato gratin. Potato gratin is excellent for holidays and special occasions. Full of cream, butter, and Gruyere cheese, the dish won’t overwhelm the delicate flavor of sea bass.
If you go with a gratin, serve it with a salad or bright vegetable dish on the side.
Citrus Rice
The subtle flavor of sea bass is wonderful with citrus. This salad combines a vibrant citrus vinaigrette with satisfying brown basmati rice. Garnish the rice with parsley, green onion, lemon, and lime zest.
Panzanella Salad
Panzanella is an Italian bread salad. This no-cook salad features fresh tomato, red onion, cucumber, basil, and tiny Mozzarella cheese balls. Make the dressing from extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic. It’s an excellent way to use leftover bread, especially if you’ve been baking at home.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
This flavorful side couldn’t be simpler to accomplish. Halve the brussels sprouts, scatter them on a baking sheet with olive oil, pepper, and salt and roast.
Roasted brussels sprouts bring a depth of flavor to the plate. They are also excellent with a little balsamic vinegar.
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
For stuffing mushrooms, you have dozens of options. My favorite to go with sea bass is an easy crab and cracker crumb stuffing similar to what you’d get with baked stuffed haddock. Use plenty of butter in the stuffing. A green salad makes a nice addition on the side.
Roasted Beets
Even if you don’t think you like beets because you’ve only had them pickled, try them roasted. Roasting brings out deep, caramelized flavors that complement the mildness of sea bass. Roast the beets in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Corn and Tomato Salad
This dish should be on your list in late summer when the local corn appears at the farmer’s market. Slicing fresh corn off the cob produces a tender and sweet flavor that perfectly complements sea bass. The tanginess of the tomatoes provides a gorgeous complement. Serve over pearl couscous or bulgur wheat.
Final Thoughts
Sea bass is such a healthy and mild fish that it lends itself easily to many pairings. You can be as creative as you like with side dishes for sea bass.
You can make salads, roasted vegetable dishes, rice dishes, and more. No matter what you choose, sea bass accommodates many other flavors.
Sea bass is amazing because it allows so much self-expression through side dishes. You can take your family on a virtual trip to Mexico, Italy, France, or the Middle East, among many other locations with your side dishes.
Find fresh sea bass at the local fish market or supermarket and start trying some of these sides for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.