• Home
  • Our Story
  • Contact
MyGourmetConnection

MyGourmetConnection

Recipes for creative cooks

  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Quick & Easy
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Quick & Easy
  • Our Story
  • Contact
Main Dishes » Seafood » Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter

Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter

by Lynne Webb on March 6, 2023 (Updated March 15, 2023) // Leave a Comment

For a quick, flavorful weeknight dish, try these crispy oven-fried barramundi fillets drizzled with a light buttery pan sauce made with fresh lemon and basil.
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Three oven-fried barramundi fillets topped with fresh lemon and basil butter and garnished with lemon wedges and basil leaves.

Table of Contents

  • An Easy Barramundi Recipe: The Perfect Weeknight Dinner
  • Key Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Barramundi FAQs
  • How To Make This Oven-Fried Barramundi Recipe
  • Make It A Meal
  • Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter

An Easy Barramundi Recipe: The Perfect Weeknight Dinner

Looking for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner? Try this recipe for barramundi fillets, oven-fried to perfection! With this no-fuss cooking method, you’ll have time to add an extra layer of flavor by making our tangy lemon-basil butter while the fish is in the oven.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Barramundi (or other thin white fish fillets): When making oven-fried fish, you’ll want to choose fillets that are 1/2-inch thick at most. This allows the fish to cook through without the coating becoming over-browned. Barramundi (more info below) is our favorite fish for this recipe, but tilapia, catfish, and snapper are all good substitutes.
  • Dry breadcrumbs: Plain dry breadcrumbs are the best choice for this recipe, as the pre-seasoned type could overwhelm the flavor of the lemon-basil butter. Avoid panko crumbs because they don’t adhere well when oven-frying and tend to crumble off when you turn the fish.
  • Lemon: Fresh lemon (the juice and zest) is essential to this dish. We always keep bottled lemon juice in the house for a squeeze here and there, but when lemon is a featured flavor in a recipe like this one, there’s no replacing the tangy citrus flavor of fresh lemon.
  • Basil: Lemon and basil have a natural flavor affinity, and just like with the lemon, fresh basil is essential to this dish. It’s added to the lemon butter just before removing it from the heat to preserve its fresh, aromatic qualities.
A serving of crumb-coated, oven-fried fish fillets topped with lemon basil butter and garnished with lemon.

Barramundi FAQs

Here’s some info on barramundi for those of you who aren’t familiar with this tasty and nutritious fish.

What Is Barramundi?

Barramundi (sometimes called Asian sea bass) is a white-fleshed fish with silver scales native to Northern Australian and Southeast Asian waters. Its name comes from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning “large-scale river fish.” Interestingly, barramundi can thrive in fresh, brackish, and saltwater, and this versatility makes it especially well-suited for sustainable farming practices.

What Does Barramundi Taste Like?

Barramundi has a mild, buttery flavor and a delicate yet firm texture that allows for various cooking methods, including grilling, frying, baking, or broiling. In addition, its subtle flavor pairs well with all sorts of seasonings and ingredients, making it a good choice for many different fish recipes. Our Fish Puttanesca is another favorite where we use barramundi.

Is Barramundi A Healthy Choice?

Barramundi is a naturally disease-resistant fish that can be sustainably farmed without antibiotics and harmful chemicals, thus protecting wild fish populations. Farmed barramundi thrive on a primarily plant-based diet, which minimizes contaminants like mercury and PCBs. In addition, barramundi is low in calories, high in protein, and has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than any other white-fleshed fish.

Where Can I Buy Barramundi?

Australis Aquaculture is the world’s largest producer of barramundi. Their sustainably farmed fish is flash-frozen immediately after harvesting to preserve flavor and texture, and you can find it in the frozen seafood sections of Whole Foods, Costco, BJ’s, Sprouts, and Stop & Shop.

Australis is an ASC-certified (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) American company that farms barramundi using environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture practices.

How To Make This Oven-Fried Barramundi Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and thoroughly coat a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil spray (or regular nonstick spray).
  2. Whisk the egg and milk together in a shallow dish (a pie plate works well for this).
  3. Combine the breadcrumbs, salt, garlic powder, and a few grinds of black pepper in a second shallow dish or on a sheet of wax paper.
  4. If necessary, cut the fish into similarly sized portions.
  5. Dip each piece of fish in the egg mixture, let the excess drip off, then coat in the seasoned breadcrumbs and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Lightly coat the top of the fillets with olive oil spray and bake until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily, 7 to 9 minutes, depending on thickness. For best results, turn the fillets midway through the cooking time.
  7. While the fish is in the oven, prepare the lemon-basil butter. Melt the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat, add the garlic, and cook until fragrant and softened, about 1-1/2 minutes (do not brown).
  8. Stir in the lemon juice and zest and cook until the liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes longer.
  9. Stir in the basil and remove from the heat.
  10. When the fish is done, plate individual servings and spread lemon-basil butter over each fillet.

Make It A Meal

Need some side dish inspiration to go with your oven-fried barramundi? Consider serving it with Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Butter, made easy by the tools you’re already using for the fish. You can prepare it first, transfer it to a serving dish, and give it a quick reheat in the microwave when you’re ready to serve. You could also consider doubling the quantity of lemon-basil butter sauce and toss the extra with cooked orzo or rice. If you’re trying to keep your meal low-carb, just add in a fresh green salad and whisk a little fresh basil into your dressing.

Oven-Fried Fish with Lemon-Basil Butter

Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter

4.56 from 9 votes
  |  Leave a Review
For a quick, flavorful weeknight dish, try these crispy oven-fried barramundi fillets drizzled with a light buttery pan sauce made with fresh lemon and basil.
Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time : 10 mins
Total Time : 20 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!

Ingredients 

  • 3/4 lb barramundi fillets, (see notes for substitutions)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the lemon-basil butter:

  • 2-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chiffonade of fresh basil

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F and thoroughly coat a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil spray (or regular nonstick spray).
  • Whisk the egg and milk together in a shallow dish (a pie plate works well for this).
  • Combine the breadcrumbs, salt, garlic powder, and a few grinds of black pepper in a second shallow dish or on a sheet of wax paper.
  • If necessary, cut the fish into similarly sized portions.
  • Dip each piece of fish in the egg mixture, let the excess drip off, then coat in the seasoned breadcrumbs and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Lightly coat the top of the fillets with olive oil spray and bake until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily, 7 to 9 minutes, depending on thickness. For best results, turn the fillets midway through the cooking time.
  • While the fish is in the oven, prepare the lemon-basil butter. Melt the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat, add the garlic, and cook until fragrant and softened, about 1-1/2 minutes (do not brown).
  • Stir in the lemon juice and zest and cook until the liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened a bit, about 2 minutes longer.
  • Stir in the basil and remove from the heat.
  • When the fish is done, plate individual servings and spread lemon-basil butter over each fillet.

Recipe Notes

  • Use thin white fish fillets: When making oven-fried fish, you’ll want to choose fillets that are 1/2-inch thick at most. This allows the fish to cook through without the coating becoming over-browned. Barramundi is our favorite fish for this recipe, but tilapia, catfish, and snapper are all good substitutes.
  • Use dry breadcrumbs: Plain dry breadcrumbs are the best choice for this recipe, as the pre-seasoned type could overwhelm the flavor of the lemon-basil butter. Avoid panko crumbs because they don’t adhere well when oven-frying and tend to crumble off when you turn the fish.
  • Use fresh lemon: Fresh lemon (the juice and zest) is essential to this dish. We always keep bottled lemon juice in the house for a squeeze here and there, but when lemon is a featured flavor in a recipe like this one, there’s no replacing the tangy citrus flavor of fresh lemon.
  • Use fresh basil: Lemon and basil have a natural flavor affinity, and just like with the lemon, fresh basil is essential to this dish. It’s added to the lemon butter just before removing it from the heat to preserve its fresh, aromatic qualities.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter
Amount per Serving
Calories
358
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
 
9
g
56
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
198
mg
66
%
Sodium
 
805
mg
35
%
Potassium
 
606
mg
17
%
Carbohydrates
 
11
g
4
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
39
g
78
%
Trans Fat
 
0.5
g
Vitamin A
 
586
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
74
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.

Author: Lynne Webb | 

Course: Seafood
 | 
Cuisine: American

Classic Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Lamb PREVIOUS
Single serving of shepherd's pie on a plate with the casserole in the background.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this Recipe:




Hi there! We’re Lynne & Erika, seasoned home cooks and recipe creators here at My Gourmet Connection. Our aim is to bring variety and new flavors to your everyday meals and we’ve got hundreds of recipes for you to explore. Welcome!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

to start making
tastier meals?

Sign up to receive our free ebook and learn five easy ways to level up the flavor of your everyday meals.

Everyday meals, unique flavors

Serving platter with garlic crusted boneless pork roast, partially carved and garnished with fresh herbs.

Garlic Herb Crusted Boneless Pork Roast

Greek Egg and Lemon Soup

Greek Egg and Lemon Soup (Avgolemono Soup)

A bowl of Instant Pot Italian chicken soup sprinkled with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Instant Pot Italian Chicken Soup

Sliced apple cider brined turkey breast on a serving platter.

Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast

Quick & Easy Recipes

Oven-Fried Fish with Lemon-Basil Butter

Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter

Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp Flatbread

Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp Flatbread

Caprese Pasta

Our Best Crab Cake Recipe

More Easy Recipes

Stay Inspired!

Sign up to get our recipes via email.

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility

© 2023 MyGourmetConnection

Site Credits