Pan-Seared Fish Bowl (Printable)

Crispy fish fillets with roasted vegetables and zesty lemon drizzle over fluffy rice.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 white fish fillets (5.3 oz each), such as cod, halibut, or tilapia
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Rice

05 - 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice
06 - 2 cups water
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

08 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
09 - 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
10 - 1 small red onion, sliced
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - Salt and pepper to taste
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano

→ Lemon Sauce

15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
17 - Juice and zest of 1 lemon
18 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, combine zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 18-20 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
03 - Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
04 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add fish fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
05 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat immediately.
06 - Divide cooked rice evenly among 4 serving bowls. Top each portion with roasted vegetables and one fish fillet. Drizzle lemon sauce over each bowl and garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole thing comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can have restaurant-quality dinner on a weeknight without the stress.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and works for pescatarian friends, plus it impresses people who think home-cooked fish is intimidating.
  • Once you nail the technique, you can swap vegetables and fish types based on what's fresh, so it never gets boring.
02 -
  • Pat your fish dry before seasoning—moisture is the enemy of a beautiful crust, and I learned this the hard way by watching fish steam instead of sear.
  • Don't crowd the pan when cooking fish; a skillet that's too full drops the temperature and you end up with pale, soggy fillets instead of golden ones.
  • Rice needs that 5-minute rest after cooking even though it feels like an eternity; it redistributes moisture and keeps the grains separate instead of clumpy.
03 -
  • Buy fish the day you plan to cook it and store it on ice in the coldest part of your refrigerator; fresher fish sears better and tastes cleaner.
  • If your vegetables finish roasting before the fish is done cooking, remove them and keep them warm under foil rather than letting them sit in the hot oven and dry out.
  • This bowl actually tastes even better as leftovers the next day because all the flavors have time to settle, so don't hesitate to make extra for lunch.
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