Baked Sea Bass Recipe: Spanish Fish with Potatoes 2026

This baked sea bass with potatoes is the kind of Spanish fish dish that works just as well for a celebration as it does for a regular weeknight meal. A whole fish is opened flat and roasted over a golden bed of sliced potatoes and onion, then finished with a bright dressing of olive oil, garlic, lemon and white wine.

Sea bass is a white fish with firm, juicy flesh and a mild flavor that almost everyone enjoys, which makes it a very forgiving choice if you are new to cooking whole fish. Here it is baked simply and quickly, so the potatoes soak up all the savory juices from the fish and the dressing as everything roasts together in one pan.

Ask your fishmonger to open the fish along the back, also called butterflied, so it lies flat and cooks evenly. The roasting times below are calculated for a 3.3-pound fish opened this way; if yours is larger or smaller, adjust the time slightly so the fish comes out perfectly cooked.

Ingredients for Baked Sea Bass with Potatoes

Serves 4

• 1 3/4 lb potatoes (800 g)
• 7 oz onion (200 g)
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tsp olive oil (65 g), divided
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1/3 cup white wine (80 ml)
• 2 sprigs fresh parsley
• 1 whole sea bass, about 3.3 lb (1.5 kg), opened along the back

How to Make Baked Sea Bass with Potatoes Step by Step

1. Slice the Potatoes and Onion

Start by peeling 1 3/4 lb of potatoes and cutting them into thin rounds, a little under half a centimeter thick. Also cut 7 oz of onion into fine julienne strips.

2. Build the Potato Bed and Roast It

Spread 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the base of a roasting tray and arrange the potatoes so they cover the whole surface. Scatter the onion on top, then add salt, a little ground black pepper and another 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Place the tray in the preheated oven at medium height and roast the potatoes at 375 °F (190 °C) for 30 minutes.

3. Mix the Dressing for the Fish

While the potatoes roast, prepare the dressing that will flavor the fish. In a bowl, combine the remaining olive oil, 2 grated garlic cloves, the juice of half a lemon, the white wine and 2 sprigs of fresh parsley chopped very finely, then mix well.

4. Add the Fish and Spoon Over the Dressing

Once the potatoes have roasted for 30 minutes, take the tray out of the oven and lay the whole sea bass, opened along the back, on top. Season it with salt and ground black pepper, then spoon the dressing you just prepared all over the fish.

5. Bake the Fish and Serve

Return the tray to the oven at medium height and bake for another 25 minutes at 375 °F (190 °C). The baked sea bass with potatoes is then ready to serve.

Tips for the Best Baked Sea Bass with Potatoes

Choose a Good White Fish

Sea bass is a generous-sized white fish with firm, juicy flesh and a mild, crowd-pleasing flavor. It takes to oven roasting beautifully, so look for a fresh, bright-eyed fish at the market and have it cleaned and prepared for you.

Adjust the Timing to the Weight

The roasting times here are calculated for a 3.3-pound fish opened along the back. If you cook a larger or smaller sea bass, adjust the baking time slightly to match its weight so the fish always comes out perfectly done.

Slice the Potatoes Thin and Even

Cut the potatoes into rounds a little under half a centimeter thick so they turn tender and golden in the time the fish needs. Even slices cook at the same rate, and spreading them in a single layer helps them crisp at the edges.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything—cozy comfort classics, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make everyone happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I'll reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this sophisticated Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

Come breakfast time or when I'm after a lighter bite, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean-inspired spreads, I'll bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion calls for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is a favorite of mine to serve.

Hearty midday meals and slow, cozy suppers are where these shine: the warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Craving something even more substantial? I'll bake up this hearty Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultimate comfort plate, this French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

When street-food cravings hit or I'm feeding a crowd, out come this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These fuss-free Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when I'm mixing drinks and planning a whole spread for company, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To tie the whole meal together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

These are the recipes I find myself making over and over—whether it's a fast solo meal or a festive spread for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the beloved Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture really helps, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and effortless, I'll typically make the traditional Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. When I want a heartier comfort dish, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner, this One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes rooted in tradition from all over the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's classic Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture without eating up time. My regular lineup includes the Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado