Skip to main content

Herbed Sea Bass and Potatoes in Broth

Here I combine woody herbs with the potatoes and tender herbs with the fish. The result is an intensely flavorful and fragrant dish.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

3 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped
1 small bunch fresh thyme (1/2 ounce), chopped
2 (3-inch) strips fresh lemon zest (removed with a vegetable peeler), thinly sliced
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
Kosher salt
2 large Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 small serrano chile
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh marjoram leaves
4 (6- to 8-ounce) black sea bass fillets, skin on
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces baby spinach
Lemon wedges, for serving

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Blend the rosemary, thyme, and 4 1/2 cups water in a blender until the herbs are finely ground. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large saucepan, pressing on the herbs to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. Add the zest, ginger, 1 tablespoon salt, and the potatoes to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until a knife easily pierces a potato, about 20 minutes.

    Step 2

    Thinly slice a quarter of the chile and set aside. Remove the stem and seeds from the remaining chile and chop finely. Combine the chopped chile with the mint, basil, dill, and marjoram in a small bowl. Cut three 1/2-inch-deep slits crosswise in each fillet. Stuff 1/2 teaspoon of the herb mixture in each slit, being careful to not get it on the skin. Season the fish with salt.

    Step 3

    Heat half of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add 2 fillets, skin side down, and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until the fish is just cooked through, about 6 minutes longer. Transfer to a warm plate. Repeat with the remaining oil and fillets.

    Step 4

    Add the spinach and sliced chile to the potatoes and broth. Cook, stirring, until the spinach just wilts. Divide the potato mixture and broth among shallow bowls. Top with the fish and season with a little salt. Serve with lemon.

Reprinted with permission from Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes by Jean-Georges Vongerichten with Genevieve Ko. Copyright © 2011 by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; photographs copyright © 2011 by John Kernick. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of the most influential chefs in the world, having single-handedly redefined haute French cuisine, lightening and refining it by adding select Asian accents. He is the chef-owner of dozens of restaurants in fourteen cities around the world. His flagship restaurant, Jean Georges, at New York's Columbus Circle, is one of six restaurants in the United States to have been awarded three coveted Michelin stars; it received four stars from the New York Times. The winner of multiple James Beard Foundation awards, he lives in New York City and Waccabuc, New York, with his family. Genevieve Ko is a cookbook author and the senior food editor at Good Housekeeping magazine. She has written for Martha Stewart Living, Gourmet, and Fine Cooking and lives in New York City with her family.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.