PAN-COOKED BASS WITH DILL AND CUCUMBER

Pan-Cooked Bass with Dill and Cucumber image

Provided by Ruth Cousineau

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 (5- to 7-oz) black sea bass or striped bass fillets (1/2 to 3/4 inch thick) with skin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
1/2 seedless cucumber (often plastic-wrapped), very thinly sliced
Special Equipment
parchment paper

Steps:

Melt butter in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet, then remove from heat and cool. Put fillets, flesh sides down, in butter, then turn over so skin sides are down. Sprinkle fish with salt (1/2 teaspoon), pepper (1/4 teaspoon), and 1 tablespoon dill. Arrange cucumber slices overlapping on fish (like scales) and season with salt and pepper. Cover fish directly with a piece of buttered parchment paper (buttered side down) large enough to cover it, then tightly cover skillet with lid or foil.
Cook fish over moderately high heat until just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Remove parchment and sprinkle fish with remaining 1/2 tablespoon dill and drizzle with some pan juices.