Air Fryer
Air Fryer Whole Sea Bass with Fresh Kachumbari
Whole fish might look impressive on the table, but it really doesn't need to be complicated. This Air Fryer Whole Sea Bass is scored and coated in a simple spice blend of togarashi, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and aromatic salt mixed with avocado oil. I season the fish inside and out, tuck fresh lemon slices into the cavity, then air fry it at 180°C for just 12 minutes until beautifully golden. I served mine on a bed of fresh kachumbari made with tomatoes, onion, coriander, lemon juice and salt. It's fresh, colourful and full of flavour, and if you want to make it a more substantial meal, simply add your favourite starch on the side.
- Prep
- Approximately 10 mins
- Cook
- 12 mins
- Air Fryer
- 180°C
- Difficulty
- Easy
Ingredients
- For the sea bass:
- Whole sea bass
- Togarashi
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Aromatic salt
- Avocado oil
- Fresh lemon slices
- For the fresh kachumbari:
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Onion, sliced
- Fresh coriander
- Salt
- Fresh lemon juice
Method
- 01
Prepare the whole sea bass and pat it dry.
- 02
Score the outside of the fish with several shallow diagonal cuts.
- 03
In a small bowl, combine the togarashi, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and aromatic salt.
- 04
Add avocado oil to the spice mixture and mix to create a seasoned coating.
- 05
Rub the seasoning mixture thoroughly over the outside of the sea bass, making sure the seasoning gets into the scored areas.
- 06
Season the inside cavity of the fish with the spice mixture as well.
- 07
Place fresh lemon slices inside the cavity.
- 08
Arrange the seasoned whole sea bass inside the air fryer basket.
- 09
Air fry at 180°C for 12 minutes.
- 10
Check that the fish is fully cooked before removing it from the air fryer. The flesh should be opaque and flake easily when cooked.
- 11
Slice the tomatoes and onion.
- 12
Add them to a bowl with fresh coriander.
- 13
Season with salt.
- 14
Add fresh lemon juice.
- 15
Gently mix everything together until combined.
- 16
Arrange the fresh kachumbari on a serving plate.
- 17
Place the golden air fried whole sea bass on top of or alongside the fresh kachumbari.
- 18
Serve immediately. Enjoy it as it is for a lighter meal or add the starch of your choice for something more substantial.
Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the sea bass and the individual air fryer, so check the fish is fully cooked before serving.
A little from me
Lackie's Notes
Don't be intimidated by cooking a whole fish. Scoring the sea bass gives all that togarashi, paprika, garlic and onion seasoning somewhere to settle instead of leaving all the flavour sitting on the surface.
And don't forget the cavity. Seasoning the inside of the fish and adding fresh lemon slices means you're building flavour from the inside as well as the outside.
The fresh kachumbari is brilliant against the warm, seasoned fish because the tomatoes, onion, coriander and lemon keep everything bright and fresh.
And as always with air fryers, cooking times can vary slightly. Whole fish won't all be exactly the same size or thickness, so check that your fish is fully cooked before serving rather than relying only on the clock.
Serve it with
Serving Suggestion
I served my Air Fryer Whole Sea Bass on a bed of fresh kachumbari made with sliced tomatoes, onion, fresh coriander, lemon juice and salt. For a light meal, that's honestly enough for me. If you want something more substantial, serve it with the starch of your choice. Rice, potatoes or another favourite side can all work beautifully, so choose whatever suits the meal you're making. For more ideas, browse my Air Fryer Recipes.
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