If you’re in need of a 30-minute dinner that feels fancy but is so easy to make, this recipe is for you. Pan-seared branzino with sauteed tomatoes, shallots & jalapenos comes together so easily and is sure to elevate your weeknight dinners.
I love to serve it with a side of pasta in fresh tomato sauce, smashed potatoes or couscous salad for an well-rounded meal.
I’ve been loving the frozen branzino fillets from Trader Joe’s whenever I want to change up my usual salmon dishes. The fillets are lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, then topped with a sauteed tomato dip made with grape tomatoes, shallots, garlic and jalapeno.
It’s fresh, zesty and is such a good dish to serve with warm bread.
What you’ll need to make Branzino with Tomatoes
- Branzino fillets– depending on the size, you can use 2-3 fillets for this recipe
- Grape tomatoes– for an extra pop of color, I used colorful tomatoes
- Jalapeno– the jalapeno is optional, but I love the added spice
- Shallots & garlic– a couple of aromatics for added flavor
- Lemon juice– the zesty juice adds delicious flavor to the fish
- Olive oil– extra virgin olive oil is key for this recipe
- Salt & pepper– I always prefer flakey salt and fresh cracked black pepper
The Best Ways to Prepare Branzino
There are a few cooking methods to prepare the fish, but I personally prefer pan-searing the fish in olive oil for a little added crisp.
- Pan-fry the fish: heat a skillet on medium heat then add in some olive oil or butter. Add in the branzino skin side down and cook the fish on medium heat for about 3-4 minutes, then flip the fish over and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Air-fry the fish: place the fish fillets on your air-fryer rack- I like to set a piece of parchment paper underneath to prevent sticking. Air-fry the fillets on 400 F for about 8 minutes
- Bake the fish. Season the branzino fillets with salt & pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Bake them in a 400 F degree oven for about 10 minutes, then set them under the broiler for the last 2 minutes.
The spicy and zesty tomato dip is the perfect addition to the branzino fillets. It’s a fresh & vibrant dish that the whole family will love!
What to serve with your branzino:
Honey Mustard Smashed Potatoes
Baked Feta Pasta with Harissa
Pearl Couscous Salad
Branzino with Tomatoes & Jalapeno
Ingredients
- 2 -3 branzino fillets, I buy them frozen from Trader Joes
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeno, sliced
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 3 -4 lemon slices
- Salt & pepper
- Fresh parsley, to top
- Olive oil
Directions
- Season the fish with a drizzle of olive oil and salt & pepper
- Heat a skillet on medium heat. Once hot, drizzle in some more olive oil
- Sear the fish skin-side down for about 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes until browned and cooked through. Cook time will depend on the size and thickness of the fillet
- Remove the fish from the pan and add in the shallots, jalapeño and garlic. Saute together for 3-4 minutes on medium heat
- Add in the tomatoes with a pinch of salt & pepper, and cook for another 5-6 minutes on medium/low until the tomatoes begin to soften
- Pour in the lemon juice and parsley and toss together for 1-2 minutes
- Serve the tomato mix over the fish with a drizzle of olive oil, squeeze of lemon juice, flakey salt and chopped parsley
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