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This dish was unbelievably delicious! Not a drop left after soaking up all the goodness from the bowl with some fresh crusty bread. Another repeat recipe, this one goes to the front of the cookbook!
chelle
Basil and garlic. Just close your eyes and breathe deep. Isn’t it the best? It’s aromatherapy, summer food style.
Now listen – a tomato-butter sauce situation bubbling gently on the stove, and yes, thanks for asking, it is as absolutely luscious as it sounds x10. You should know that it’s also studded with white beans a quick pinch of grated parmesan, and served atop tender, flaky, flavorful barramundi (THE ULTIMATE SUSTAINABLE AND TASTY WHITE FISH WHICH WE LOVE).
Wows. These are seriously exciting food times.
Confession About Fish
I am the kind of person who knows they want to buy more sustainable fish, but doesn’t always know how to do that.
The Typical Scene: me, standing in front of the seafood freezer at the grocery store, rifling through packages of frozen fish and seafood with a permanent deer-in-the-headlights look. WHAT TO BUY. DON’T UNDERSTAND. MUST GET FOOD IN BELLY NOW.
This is not ideal and usually leads to an open bag of chips riding home in the front seat of the car which then leads to scrapped dinner plans for said seafood. Which is why now I’m going to tell you how to buy sustainable, delicious fish that will give you the stars in your eyes thing without making you drive to the special-seafood-people store halfway across town, or study a chart, or generally be anything more than a regular person who loves food.
That’s what barramundi does, friends. And you can find out a whole lot more right here.
Okay, Back To The Recipe
If you guys are digging summer as much as I am, then this has our names written all over it.
Fresh tomatoes, spicy garlic, delicate green basil, and that pan-fried white fish / barramundi served with the white bean tomato butter sauce that is literally my favorite sauce texture ever. It’s like a tomato butter GRAVY and it is divine.
You could serve this in a bowl, like I do with 99% of the foods in my life, or you could get fancy and serve it with a green salad and a little bread. The bread? This sauce? The sopping action that would ensue? You would become your own best friend. You would win the hearts of millions. You would probably actually bring about world peace.
The end.
Garlic Basil Barramundi Skillet with Tomato Butter Sauce
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3–4, depending on how much fish you use 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Garlic Basil Barramundi Skillet with Tomato Butter Sauce! SO YUMMY and super easy, with basic ingredients like garlic, basil, tomatoes, white beans, Parmesan, and white fish. Perfect with a green salad and crusty bread.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- fresh torn basil and fresh minced parsley
- generous pinch of salt, freshly cracked pepper
- 4–6 tomatoes, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 12-ounce can white beans, rinsed and drained
- 12–16 ounces barramundi (or your favorite white fish), thawed
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- MARINATE TOMATOES AND BEANS: Combine olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, pepper, tomatoes and their juices, and white beans in a small bowl. Set aside to marinate while cooking the fish (although the longer they marinate, the yummier your sauce will be).
- FISH: Heat a quick swish of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Pat the fish dry, season with salt and pepper, and pan-fry on each side for about 4 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- SAUCE: Add the tomato white bean mixture to the skillet and add the butter. Bring to a low simmer – the sauce should start to thicken. Add the chicken broth as needed to thin it out. Season with salt and pepper. When the sauce is velvety and loose enough to evenly coat the back of a spoon, add the fish back in. Spoon the sauce over top of the fish and serve. Goes perfectly with a green salad and crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: white fish recipe, barramundi recipe, how to use barramundi, what is barramundi, tomato and basil
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our collection of best healthy gluten-free recipes. Check it out!
I found this candle at Kohl’s a few months ago and it smells like tomato vine 🙂 🙂 🙂
yassssss! thank you Casey! Day made.
Oh this looks delicious AND I have everything to make it (a friend just gifted us a ton of fresh vine-ripened tomatoes).
But I’m going to be *that person* and ask if anyone has any ideas of what to sub the beans for if we want to make it more low carb? I only ask because my Dr. only very recently suggested I try a low-carb diet and I don’t know how to navigate these waters and I know this is a safe space… Part of me is pretty sure that only beans can do what only beans can do.
I think it would still be very delicious without the beans. What about chunks of sautéed zucchini?
That’s a great idea! I’ll put it in the rotation! 😀
It looks so good, amazing recipe
http://www.Rachelkromdijk.nl
Thanks Rachel!
Yup, Food52’s tomato vine candle FTW!
F52 for the win!
Oh my gosh, it’s $50. GULP
This looks so good! I will keep my eye out for the barramundi fish. I am always looking for good fish options! Thanks for sharing :).
Thanks Emily! It’s my go-to fish!
Made this tonight with a few moderations. Had some frozen Lima beans already cooking and husband said he wanted some white fish with basil. Googled literally those three things and your recipe popped up. My modifications were: frozen Lima beans cooked in a bit of chicken stock, red snapper from a recent fishing trip and canned diced tomatoes. Was simply delicious and will be a staple in the summer during our Texas heat. Great recipe! Thanks!!
Thanks for sharing, Tammi!
Made this tonight with fresh barramundi, it was great. I didn’t have basil so subbed fresh dill, and also added some diced zucchini to bulk up the veg content, and we loved it. Thanks!
Try Whole Foods. Barramundi is a high class fish from Australia. I used to sell it to upper grade restaurants.
best aromatherapy ever!! i also like garlic bread aromatherapy, and waffle cone aromatherapy, and this list could go on for days.
Oh man, waffle cone aromatherapy? YES.
I am looking forward to trying this. Cooking fish is always intimidating to me and I’ve never tried cooking frozen fish. Thanks for the inspiration. Also, R. Nichols makes wonderful smelling candles that also feature unique silhouette designs that are beautiful when lit. He makes a “Grow” candle that smells like tomatoes fresh from the vine. He also has some scents/scenes that bring back wonderful memories. He has a “Lake” and “Sniff” (walking dogs design) and many others that I think would remind you of your girls getaway, your Cali road trip, or even your husband’s love of books! I swear I don’t work for them! I have just really enjoyed his unique scents.
lovely! LAKE?! I love it! Thank you Rebekah!
Thank you a) for explaining what barramundi is, b) for creating this AMAZING LOOKING RECIPE that I cannot wait to try, and c) for also obsessing over the smell of tomato vine! I actually did find a candle once but it just didn’t do the trick. I think there’s some money in that idea… 🙂 Pinned!
Agreed! Business opportunity! 😀
Looks fantastic Lindsey. I’m glad to hear you can find this amazing fish in Costco. I will look for it next time shopping there.
Hope you like it as much as we do Edyta!
Hi Lindsay
Demeter do a range of home scents and perfumes. They have a few tomato scented ones:
http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Demeter-Fragrance/Green-Tomato-14919.html
http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Demeter-Fragrance/Tomato-14918.html
http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Demeter-Fragrance/Tomato-Seeds-15602.html
Can’t comment on the authenticity of the fragrance, or the longevity, but there are reviews on some of those links.
And that dish looks fantastic, so I’m gonna be making that this week!
Cheers
Tess
I am not alone! there are other tomato vine lovers out there! you are my hero!
Answer to your tomato candle plea!
THANK YOU I knew someone would come through!
Just made this, but only had frozen cod fish on hand — ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!! It is definitely a keeper!! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Trisha
Makes me so happy – thanks Trisha! Next time you’ll have to try the barramundi! 😉
Omgosh another huge winner! I had all of these ingredients on hand which makes me so happy, and it was so delicious! Wonderful sauce. Sadly I didn’t have bread. Next time.
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for the comment Lindsay!
Yumm, Barramundi is one of my favorite fishes. I love the way you have cooked it (:
It’s sooo super good! I am so glad I discovered it.
This is one delicious looking dish, I bet it tastes divine especially with freshly picked tomatoes – you can’t go wrong there! Love the colors!
Thanks Julia! Happy food colors of summer.
So, so, SO in love with this recipe!! Barramundi is the BEST, and I’m bookmarking this one for when the weather gets a little cooler. 🙂
I am seriously obsessed. I love a good tomato butter sauce, and obviously the barramundi… 😀
I love this recipe! Not to hard to make and prepare, plus it is super tasty.
Thanks Kyle!
Talk about a win. This recipe is delicious! I was looking for some new fish recipes, salmon is my go to, and this has officially been added to my new weekday recipe list. So flavorful and balanced. Thanks for another tasty treat!
Glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! 🙂
This is tomato vine-scented bliss! I’ve seen the same scent for soap and shampoo in certain higher-end hotels but those don’t seem to be available for retail sale, sadly. Tempted to shell out for the body wash though, the scent is so fresh and amazing.
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hope you enjoy it, Janice! 🙂
Scentsy used to have a tomato vine scent.
Lindsay, this is another winner. I used ready-made chicken instead of the fish since I had it in hand. Came out great!
Awesome, Anna! Glad to hear it!
I made this last night (with a can of Muir Glen crushed tomatoes b/c I didn’t have fresh on hand), and it was fast, easy, and sooo good! As I fixed my husband’s lunch box with leftovers today, he said he couldn’t wait to eat it again. 🙂 Thank you!
Love hearing that! Glad you both enjoyed it!
I made this last night with Talapia – oh my goodness it is to die for!!! Now I will always have canned white beans on hand – it was easy, and usually have all the ingredients – Thank you Lindsey!
Love hearing that! Thanks, Debi!
The easy-to-find brand Method (at Target!) has tomato vine hand soap and all-purpose cleaner. I stock up on the hand soap whenever I find it. It’s seasonal so keep an eye out!
That’s amazing! We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out!
Made this earlier this week and it was AMAZING! SO good and so easy. I used cod, because it was on sale, but will have to try to the barrmundi. Thanks for a great recipe!
Glad to hear it, Claire! 🙂