If you’re wondering what to serve with your sea bass, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 45 of the most popular side dishes for sea bass.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes for sea bass include potato leek puree, herby basmati rice, and celeriac fries. You can also try risotto with peas, summer couscous salad, or harissa aioli. For healthier options, serve stewed tomatoes, sauteed bok choy, creamy spinach salad, or creamy garlic cauliflower.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Great flavor pairings for sea bass
Sea bass is a delicate fish with a slightly sweet flavor to it.
You don’t want to pair it with anything too strong or it will overpower the fish. But it goes really well with:
- Acidic flavors – to really highlight the mild sweetness of sea bass, pair it with a bright, citrusy flavors like lemon, lime, or vinegar. Tangy, sour flavors like ginger or capers will work well too.
- Creamy flavors – to add a touch of indulgence to your delicate sea bass is, go with a lightly creamy sauce or side dish. Nothing too rich though, or you’ll drown out the fish!
- Herby flavors – if you’re not a fan of acidic flavors, fresh, herby flavors are a great way to enhance sea bass’s delicate flavors. I like it with rosemary, thyme, or even tarragon.
Toppings and condiments
A fresh topping or a creamy sauce is the perfect way to add something to your dish whilst still making sure the sea bass is the star of the show.
I’d never say no to a fresh and fruity salsa, but a tangy eggplant caponata will works wonders with sea bass too.
And like I said above, a light cream sauce will bring a hint of decadence without being too overpowering.
Mango salsa
Spoon this mango salsa over your sea bass and be transported straight to the beach.
Fresh fish always makes me think of a tropical island, and so does fresh fruit. And luckily they taste great together!
Pro tip: make sure to chop all the ingredients up nice and small, so you can get a bit of everything in every bite.
This pineapple and mango salsa also has some jalapenos to give it some spice.
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Pineapple-mango salsa
Skip the fruity twist
Grilled corn salsa
Go Tex-Mex
Authentic pico de gallo
Italian salsa verde
Italian salsa verde isn’t technically a side dish, but I couldn’t leave it off the list – it’s too good with sea bass.
This vibrant green sauce is loaded with fresh herbs, garlic, capers, lemon juice, and lemon zest, giving you a bright and zippy flavor that’ll make your taste buds tingle.
Why we love this recipe: it will add a nice pop of color to your plate.
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Italian salsa verde
Make it spicy
Chimichurri
Go creamy
Lemon and parmesan creamy sauce
Harissa aioli
Sea bass is a mild fish, so you don’t want too many strong flavors on the plate.
A sauce is the perfect way to add a bit of a kick without making it too intense.
Harissa has heat to it, but it’s not spicy – it’s just enough to make your taste buds stand up and notice.
And we all know what happens when your taste buds get engaged: they start asking for more!
Psst.. pair this sauce with your sea bass and some celeriac fries. It’s delicious.
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Harissa aioli
Stick with the basics
Lemon butter sauce
Go Italian
Basil pesto
Vegetables and salad
Keep your sea bass meal light and healthy with a warm veggie side dish or a big bowl of salad.
You can keep it simple with greens, or go more complex with a traditional ratatouille or saucy stew.
If you want something filling but nourishing, go for a couscous or quinoa salad with crunchy veggies.
Sauteed bok choy
Sauteed bok choy is a great way to add some veggie goodness to your sea bass.
Sea bass can be a little dull if you’re pairing it with the standard vegetables.
But this Asian bok choy has summery-vibes that make the plate seem happy! Can you describe food as happy? I think you can.
Bok choy has a mild grassy flavor, which is exactly what you want with a delicate fish like sea bass.
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Sauteed bok choy
Fire up the grill
Grilled baby bok choy with soy-lime dressing
Make a starter
Bok choy soup
Artichoke salad
Artichokes are a unique, and in my opinion, super underutilized ingredient.
They brighten up salads and instantly make the plate feel fancier.
Just what you want for an upmarket piece of sea bass.
And the flavors work well together too.
The sharp, fresh taste from the marinated artichokes are balanced out by the buttery, moist sea bass.
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Tuscan artichoke salad
Make it warm
Artichoke hearts in white wine butter sauce
Fire up the oven
Baked artichoke hearts
Tomato and chickpea stew
Turn your sea bass into a warm, comforting dinner with this tomato and chickpea stew.
It’s a Mediterranean classic that will have your guests asking for seconds.
And the slightly acidic flavors of the stewed tomatoes will highlight the sweet notes of your sea bass beautifully.
Serve the dish with some crusty bread so you can mop up all the sauce afterwards!
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Tomato and chickpea stew
Go Southern
Stewed tomatoes
Make it effortless
Cherry tomato and garlic confit
Summer couscous salad
If you’re craving something light to eat with your sea bass, this summer couscous salad will hit the spot.
Couscous is satisfying without being heavy, and the mint adds a refreshing bite to the dish.
The cucumber adds some crunch, the tomatoes bring a splash of color, and the dressing brings the acidity.
Plus it’s easy enough to make that you can whip it up on a busy weeknight.
What are you waiting for?
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Summer couscous salad
Make it Italian-inspired
Pesto pearl couscous salad
Skip the couscous
Thai quinoa salad
Spinach salad with creamy balsamic
While artichoke salads are great, sometimes you want to use simple ingredients.
Using spinach leaves instead of standard lettuce is another way to elevate a salad and make it dinner-party ready.
This salad is fresh, light, and easy to make.
And there’s a fun twist in using dried fruit and nuts to add some crunch.
Tip: if strawberries are in season you can use them instead of the dried fruit.
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Spinach salad with creamy balsamic
Add a fruity twist
Strawberry spinach salad
Make it indulgent
Steakhouse creamed spinach
Starches
A light protein like sea bass is the perfect opportunity for heavier starchy sides.
Mashed potatoes are always a fabulous option, but you can also go with something a little less classic like a delicious spaghetti aglio e olio.
Or if you’re feeling really fancy, go the extra mile with a classic risotto.
Garlic leek mashed potatoes
There’s nothing like a good potato leek puree to go with your sea bass. The leek adds a sweet oniony flavor that’s hard to beat.
The trick to good mash is not to overcook or over-stir the mixture; otherwise, it’ll become gummy and tasteless.
And while you’re at it, make sure you’ve got plenty of butter – butter makes everything better!
Sounds great, right?
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Garlic and leek mashed potatoes
Make it more decadent
Cheesy whipped potatoes
Make it different
Sea salt and oregano domino potatoes
Instant pot risotto with peas
With an instant pot you can get a risotto on the table in a flash.
Just pop the ingredients into the pot and it’ll cook itself! Which means you can concentrate on the seabass.
Check out this quick recipe from desserforttwo. I also like to throw in a handful of bacon to add some smokiness to the dish.
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Instant pot risotto
Make it fusion
Mexican street corn risotto
Skip the stovetop
Baked pumpkin risotto
Crab fried rice
Want a restaurant-worthy dish to impress your date?
I tried this unique combination once and was blown away.
The sweet crab meat and the umami flavors of soy sauce married with the delicate sea bass perfectly.
I was disappointed when I realized I’d taken my last bite.
And guess what? You only need 20 minutes to make this delicious dish.
Let Cookingwithcocktailrings guide you through making the best crab-fried rice in town.
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Crab fried rice
Add a sweet kick
Thai pineapple fried rice
Skip the rice
Quinoa “fried rice”
Garlic butter parmesan smashed potatoes
There are so many different ways to make potatoes – but I bet you haven’t tried smashed potatoes yet.
They’re fun to make, look great on the plate, and taste amazing.
There are so many nooks and crannies for the seasoning to get into that the potatoes are bursting with flavor.
And the skin is crispy, but not so crispy that it detracts from the softness of the seabass.
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Garlic butter parmesan smashed potatoes
Make it fancy
Fondant potatoes
Keep it simple
Roasted baby potatoes
Herby basmati rice
An easy rice side would be my go-to if I was already serving my sea bass with a tangy sauce or salsa.
The rice grains will soak up the juices from your sauce, making sure nothing gets left behind on the plate.
And my favorite rice is basmati rice. It’s fluffy texture keep it light.
Add some fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon and you’re good to go.
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Herby basmati rice
Go tropical
Coconut rice with lime
Make it Tex-Mex
Mexican rice
Low-carb alternatives
Keep your sea bass meal light and healthy with these low-carb side dishes.
You’ll get that indulgent feeling, minus the extra calories and guilt.
My favorite low-carb side is a cauliflower mash for that luscious, creamy bite but zucchini noodles are a close second.
Creamy garlic cauliflower mash
Creamy garlic cauliflower mash is a fabulous side dish for your sea bass.
It’s ideal if you’re trying to cut back on carbs but still want to indulge in some comfort food.
The nutty flavor from the cauliflower will complement your sea bass and works any time of year.
You might want to add a few tomatoes or green veggies to the plate for some color though!
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Garlic cauliflower mash
Another low-carb alternative
Parsnip puree
Make a starter
Roasted cauliflower soup
Celeriac fries
Fish and chips is a British classic, and you can take some inspiration from it by serving sea bass with celeriac fries.
I think potato fries are a little heavy for sea bass. Celeriac has a fresher flavor, and it’s keto and paleo-friendly!
These baked celeriac fries have a dusting of paprika for extra flavor, but you can get creative with the seasoning.
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Baked celeriac fries
Another low-carb choice
Parmesan zucchini fries
Back to basics
Homemade French fries
The Best Dishes To Serve With Sea Bass
- Potato leek puree
- Mango salsa
- Sauteed bok choy
- Creamy garlic cauliflower mash
- Artichoke salad
- Summer couscous salad
- Instant pot risotto with peas
- Fresh tomato salad
- Crab fried rice
- Garlic butter parmesan smashed potatoes
- Harissa aioli
- Spinach salad with creamy balsamic
- Celeriac fries
- Herby basmati rice
- Italian salsa verde

What To Serve With Sea Bass
Ingredients
- 1 portion celeriac fries
- 1 portion cauliflower mash
- 1 portion artichoke salad
- 1 portion herby basmati rice
- 1 portion potato leek puree
- 1 portion sauteed bok choy … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your sea bass according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: potato leek puree, mango salsa, sauteed bok choy, creamy garlic cauliflower mash, artichoke salad, summer couscous salad, instant pot risotto with peas, stewed tomatoes, crab fried rice, garlic butter parmesan smashed potatoes, harissa aioli, spinach salad with creamy balsamic, celeriac fries, and herby basmati rice.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!