If you’re in the mood for a refined dinner that feels restaurant-worthy but is surprisingly easy to prepare, baked sea bass with fennel gratin is the answer. This dish blends the mild, buttery taste of sea bass with the sweet, slightly licorice-like flavor of fennel, creating a unique and memorable combination.
Sea bass is a favorite among seafood lovers for its delicate texture and clean flavor. When baked, it stays moist and flaky, especially when drizzled with a touch of olive oil, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. A few fresh herbs, like thyme or dill, can elevate the fish even further without overpowering its natural taste.
But the real star of this dish might just be the fennel gratin. Thinly sliced fennel bulbs are layered in a baking dish, then coated with a light cream or béchamel sauce and finished with a dusting of Parmesan cheese. Once baked, the fennel turns meltingly tender with crispy golden edges and a slightly caramelized surface that pairs beautifully with the fish.
When served together, the contrast between the flaky sea bass and the rich, creamy fennel makes every bite feel luxurious yet comforting. A few lemon wedges on the side help cut through the richness and keep the dish tasting light and fresh.
This meal is perfect for a cozy night in or a dinner party where you want to impress without stress. It can be assembled ahead of time, especially the fennel gratin, leaving you free to focus on baking the fish just before serving.
Pair it with a crisp white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, and maybe a simple arugula salad on the side, and you’ve got a dinner that’s both elegant and effortless. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just experimenting with seafood, baked sea bass with fennel gratin is a dish that delivers on flavor, texture, and style.
Ingredients
- 2 sea bass fillets
- 1 fennel bulb sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season the sea bass fillets with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the fennel slices and sauté for 5 minutes until slightly softened.
- Pour the heavy cream over the fennel and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Transfer the fennel mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- Place the sea bass fillets on top of the fennel gratin.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
This recipe is real fancy, lol. I like to keep it simple, but might try it for a special occasion.
I don’t know about fennel, it tasted like licorice. Maybe trying it with broccoli next time?
This is so easy to make! My family loved it. Thank you!
Hehe, I forgot to take off the skin from the fish… it was crunchy for sure. 😂
Way too much cream! My heart can’t take that! I think less cream would be better, right?
Yummy! I did add some garlic and lemon zest tho. Made it extra tasty!
Sounds great! Garlic and lemon zest are always a good idea. Will try it next time!
I don’t know. Garlic seems a bit much for fish. But to each their own, I guess.
I think I overcooked the fish. What do I do now? Any tips?
Just eat it anyway. Fish is still good! Maybe next time cook it less, like 15 mins instead of 20.
Don’t worry too much! You can try adding a little lemon juice or a sauce to make it moist again. It happens to the best of us!
I substituted the cream with almond milk. Still turned out great! Just as creamy!
Eww, did not like it! The cheese was too overpowering. I won’t be making this again.
This recipe is fantastic! My family loved it, and the flavors were amazing. Highly recommend!
Cream and cheese on fish? Sounds odd, but oddly yummy! Give it a try.
Fennel? Never heard of it before! Is it like cabbage? 🤔
Fennel is actually different from cabbage! It’s more like an aromatic herb with a sweet, anise flavor. You should give it a try!
Delicious! The fennel adds such a nice flavor to the fish. Definitely making this again!
This is way too complicated for a weekend dinner. Who has that much time?
Easy to follow! My kitchen smelled so good while baking. I’ll definitely add this to my meal prep list!
Too much cream I think. Made my stomach hurt. Not for me!
I understand what you mean! Cream can be a lot for some people. Maybe try using less next time?
This dish was a hit at my dinner party! The creamy texture and cheesy top made it feel so fancy. Thanks for sharing!
Seems a bit complicated for just fish and veggies. Can’t I just grill the sea bass? Seems easier.
I get where you’re coming from! Grilling fish is definitely easier. But this baked version sounds so creamy and rich! Maybe give it a try just once?
Why bother with all that? Just grill! You don’t need fancy stuff to make it taste good. Sea bass is good enough on its own!
Absolutely delicious! The fennel adds such a unique flavor. Will make it again!
This recipe is too complicated. Why can’t we just fry the fish? Baking seems like too much work.
This recipe was a disaster for me! My fish was raw in the middle! 😩
I don’t know. I tried it and the flavor was just… not good. Maybe I did something wrong? 🤔
Maybe you didn’t cook it long enough? Try adjusting the seasoning next time!
I don’t understand why people like fennel. It taste like licorice, which I hate!
I totally get what you mean! Fennel does have a strong flavor. Maybe try using a different veggie next time?
Didn’t turn out like the picture. My cheese didn’t melt like that and the fish looked sad.
Sounds like a disaster lol. Maybe your oven isn’t hot enough? Or you forgot to prep right.
Sorry to hear that! Sometimes cheese can be tricky. Did you use fresh Parmesan? It melts better!
I followed the recipe but my fish came out kinda dry. Maybe I’ll try a different fish next time.
So easy to make! My husband loved it and he’s picky about fish. Thanks for the recipe!
Fennel? Never heard of it. Thought it was onion at first. LOL. But it was good!
I was skeptical about cooking fish with cream, but this turned out great! Didn’t think it would work.
I’m glad you tried it! Fish and cream surprisingly work well together. I love how creamy the sauce gets.
Good recipe! Even my kids liked it and they don’t usually eat fish. Thank you! 👏
Really? My kids would never eat fish! What do you put in it to make them like it?
That’s awesome! Fish can be tricky for kids sometimes. Glad they liked it! 🐟
I can’t believe how easy this was! Will impress my guests for sure. 🤩
Super easy! But next time I might use less cheese. Too rich for me. Too much parmesan for my taste. 😅
I found the fennel a bit too strong for my taste. I think I prefer my fish with a lemon butter sauce instead.
I totally get you! Fennel can be really overpowering. Lemon butter sounds yummy! I’ll try that next time.
yum yum! I used cod instead of sea bass and it turned out fine! Was a bit skeptical but worth it.
Was skeptical about the heavy cream but it really brought everything together. Nice job!
Yum! So good! I added a bit of lemon zest for a twist. Will be making again!
OMG this is the best??? I made it for my friends and they were all like WOW. Definitely gonna make it again.
Yay! So glad to hear it turned out great! I bet it was super tasty. 👍
Really? I tried it and mine came out soggy. Maybe I did something wrong? 🤔
Just 2 steps and it’s done. Crazy easy. 🐟❤️
I love how simple this is! Can’t wait to try it! 🥰
2 steps? More like 8! But it looks good, so maybe worth it?
Isn’t fennel supposed to be for rabbits? Not sure about putting it with fish.
TASTY!! I added some garlic and it made it even better. Yum!
Baked fish?? Sounds bland. Give me fried any day. 🤷♂️
I dunno. Not sure if the fennel really added anything. Tasted kinda weird to me. Not my favorite.
This was delish! The fennel gives it such a neat flavor. Definitely making it again! 😋
I’m so glad you loved it! Fennel really does add a unique touch, doesn’t it? 😊
Sea bass is too expensive where I live. What else can I use? Any suggestions?
Isn’t sea bass expensive? I am just a simple cook! Would tuna work?
Sea bass is like, the best fish. So soft and tasty. This recipe nailed it!
Absolutely delicious! The flavors blend so well together. I’ll definitely make this again!
I love this dish! But how long should I bake it if I double the recipe?
Fennel what? Never heard of it before, but it was interesting! Didn’t hate it, but not sure I’d make it again.
Can someone tell me if I can use tilapia instead of sea bass? I can’t find it in my store.
What is fennel? Do I even need it? I just chopped up some onions instead, lol.
Made this for my parents and they loved it! Even asked for the recipe!
I tried making this but used cod instead of sea bass and it didn’t turn out great. Not sure if it was the fish or the recipe but it tasted off.
Baked fish? Nah. I prefer it grilled. This might be for someone else.
Nah, I don’t get it. Fish should be grilled! Baked fish sounds kinda bland.
Grilled is great, but you should try baked! The cream and cheese make it super tasty!
This was amazing!!! The sea bass turned out so flaky and the fennel was just perfect. Definitely making this again!
This was absolutely delicious! The flavors were fantastic, and the sea bass was cooked perfectly. My family loved it!
I added some lemon zest at the end! So good! Don’t forget the lemon! 🍋
Yum! I used less cream and added some garlic. So delicious!