How long does it take to make Pan-Seared Fish?

Sear a skin-on fillet skin side down over medium-high heat, 2–3 minutes until the skin is crisp, then flip and cook 2–3 more minutes depending on thickness.

9 minTotal

5 minActive time

4 minSetting

Step by Step

#	What to do	How long
1	Pat the fish thoroughly dry with paper towels and sprinkle the salt over the top	1 min
2	Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan over high heat	3 min
3	Lay the fish in the pan in a single layer and fry 4 minutes	4 min
4	Flip gently and fry 1 minute more	1 min

Common Mistakes

What you brown (meat, patties, schnitzel) goes into hot oil: in lukewarm oil it soaks it up and comes out greasy. For onion and garlic that you soften, oil heated over medium or low heat is enough; do not wait for it to smoke.

More Ways

Sear a thick fillet skin side down for about 2 minutes and finish in the oven at 200°C (390°F) for about 6 minutes.
Pan wine sauce: remove the fish, reduce a quarter cup of dry white wine with the juice of half a lemon by half in the hot pan, and off the heat stir in cold butter for a velvety sauce.
Pan teriyaki: pour the sauce around the seared fish and spoon the bubbling sauce over it for a minute or two, until coated; sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and green onion.

The full recipe: Pan-Seared Fish →