This delicious Chilean Sea Bass recipe is ready in about 15 minutes, cooked perfectly in the air fryer! Air fryer sea bass is buttery with an Asian-inspired glaze perfect for special occasions or when you are craving a restaurant-style fish dish!
If you have not had Chilean Sea Bass it's a delicate fish that's absolutely delicious. This flaky fish cooks in 15 minutes with no marinating required. We add a glaze at the end of cooking that provides a flavorful punch to the mild flavor of delicious fish.
If you are craving an easy low carb fish recipe the delicious flavor in this healthy meal will make your mouth water.
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What is Chilean Sea Bass?
Technically its real name is Patagonian Toothfish. Not so appetizing sounding? That's why this species of sea bass that is found near Chile is called Chilean Sea Bass instead!
This mild flavored, flaky fish is incredibly popular. It's a slow to reproduce long living fish found cold waters of the southern Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. This has lead to it being over fished and due to the supply and demand it's one of the most expensive white fish.
Like other white fish it's low-calorie and high protein though it has more calories than other fish. It's a great choice as a special occasion main dish. It's a perfect dinner idea for something special and fast to make.
What makes this skinny?
Chilean sea bass is often cooked in a butter sauce. Cooking it in the air fryer removes any fat from the cooking process as it functions like a small convection oven.
Compared to other fish like salmon, Chilean sea bass has more calories. Because it's fattier fish and more expensive makes it more of a splurge meal. For a lean white fish cod or an air fryer tilapia or mahi mahi recipe are great choices for air fryer fish recipes but there is nothing like the flaky texture and buttery flavor of Chilean sea bass.
If you compare it to other fish, it's on the high side of the calorie list but compared to other splurge meals, it's a great choice and is packed with Omega-3's.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
Chilean sea bass. You'll need 1 pound. The fish is sold in half pound, one pound or larger quantities typically. Unless you buy a larger half fish fillet (usually around 2 pounds) it should not have bones (but always check).
Choose a one pound piece and halve it, or two half-pound pieces if possible. Once cooked you can have the two half pound pieces to stretch it further (to make four smaller servings) if desired.
Dab any excess moisture from the fresh fish fillets with a paper towel before starting the recipe.
Olive oil spray. Instead of basting with oil a few sprtiz's of olive oil spray is all that's needed.
Soy sauce. Regular or gluten-free soy sauce or tamari can be used.
Mirin or Aji Mirin. This is a Japanese cooking rice wine found in the international section of the grocery store. It adds a sweet and tangy flavor. Actual Mirin can sometimes be hard to find so Aji Mirin (means 'tastes like Mirin') can be used. It tastes very close to mirin but is slightly sweeter.
Grated ginger. You'll use fresh ginger that has been grated. Use a box grater on the fine holes or a microplane. Grating the ginger allows it to be better mix in the glaze versus dicing it. Stir-in type ginger paste can be substituted too.
Grated garlic. As with the ginger, the garlic should be grated before adding to the glaze. Stir-in garlic paste can be substituted.
Maple syrup. One teaspoon adds just a touch of sweetness to complement the salty soy sauce.
Note on Air Frying
This easy air fryer recipe is a great way to whip up a healthy fish dinner with a fraction of the oil. In fact we only use a tiny bit of olive oil spray. It produces seasoned fish with a golden brown exterior without any deep frying or pan frying making it one of our favorite fish recipes.
Different sizes and brands of air fryers all cook slightly differently. It's important to monitor the doneness of the fish and adjust for your air fryer. Using an instant read food thermometer will ensure the air fryer sea bass is cooked through!
We cooked this recipe in a Cosori 5.8 quart Max XL air fryer.
How to make Air Fryer Sea Bass
STEP 1. Preheat
Take the sea bass out of the refrigerator while preheating the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F. When the air fryer is heated lightly spray the basket with olive oil spray to prevent the fish skin from sticking.
STEP 2. Cook
Lightly spray the sea bass fillets with olive oil spray and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper (photo 1).
Place fish in the air fryer basket, skin side down, with space in between (photo 2).
Cook for 10 minutes at 380 degrees (photo 4 - after cooking).
STEP 3. Glaze
While the sea bass cooks make the glaze. Combine the soy sauce, mirin, ginger, garlic and maple syrup. Whisk to fully mix together (photo 3).
After the 10 minute cooking cycle gently brush the glaze onto the tops and sides of the fish (photo 5).
STEP 4. Finish
Cook an additional 2 minutes at 380 or until the internal temperature of the sea bass reaches 135 degrees F (photo 6 - after cooking).
Gently remove from the air fryer and serve immediately (the fish will be delicate and flaky).
Expert Tips
Size matters. The size and thickness of your fillets will determine the cooking time. Try to cook fillets of similar thickness so they will cook in the same amount of time for best results.
Use an instant read thermometer. The safest way to determine if the fish is cooked is to check the internal temperature. Insert into the thickest part of the fillet, not touching the air fryer. The temperature should read 135 degrees F.
Frequently asked questions
135 degrees F. The temperature will continue to rise slightly when it's removed from the air fryer too.
Yes! Keeping the skin on the fish when cooking protects if from falling apart (it's very flaky when cooked). The skin is safe to eat or you can just eat the fish and discard the skin.
How to Store
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated before eating.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Sea Bass
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound chilean sea bass cut into 2 or 3 fillets (see Notes)
- Olive oil spray
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce regular or gluten-free
- 1 tablespoon mirin or aji mirin
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons grated garlic
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- Lightly spray the sea bass with olive oil spray and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
- When the air fryer is heated lightly spray the basket with olive oil spray to prevent the fish skin from sticking.
- Place the fillets in the air fryer basket, skin side down, with space in between.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 380 degrees.
- While the sea bass cooks make the glaze. Combine the soy sauce, mirin, ginger, garlic and maple syrup. Whisk to fully mix together.
- After the 10 minute cooking cycle gently brush the glaze onto the tops and sides of the fish.
- Cook an additional 2 minutes at 380 or until the internal temperature of the sea bass reaches 135 degrees F.
- Gently remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Ann says
This turned out FABULOUS. I used stevia instead of maple syrup though. THANKS!
Toni Dash says
So glad you enjoyed it Ann! Thanks for sharing your modification too!
Jess says
such a perfect recipe! i've been looking to expand my seafood recipe bank!
Agnes says
Such an easy and flavorful recipe! Wonderful served with rice, and roasted veggies.
Allyssa says
Super highly recommended! This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again!
Hattie says
It turned out so amazing and juicy. Was so wonderful.
kushigalu says
Love how easy and delicious this recipe is in air fryer, Thanks for sharing.
Jill says
I love cooking fish in my air fryer! Thanks for your fantastic recipe! Loving the flavor profile of the glaze especially!
Tara says
You had me at ready in about 15 minutes! This sea bass looks amazing. Such a fantastic and easy meal made in the air fryer.
Diane V says
WOW! My husband said it was the best he's had!
wilhelmina says
Love this recipe! The air fryer has become my go-to method to cook fish.
Jess says
I am the recent owner of an Air Fryer and have been on the hunt for all the recipes for it. This one is so easy!