Learn how to cook crispy skin branzino fillets with this easy recipe! This is one of the most foolproof fish recipes, resulting in a pan-seared branzino that’s tender and flaky, with a ton of fresh flavor. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission when you shop through them. 

A branzino fillet that has been pan seared sits on a bed of arugula and is topped with gremolata and kumquats.

If you’ve never cooked branzino at home, this is the perfect place to start. Delicate, mild, and quick to prepare, pan-seared branzino filets with crispy skin make for an elegant but easy weeknight dinner. You can serve this fish in many ways (more ideas at the end of this post).

I’ll show you how I served it over peppery arugula, drizzled with zesty gremolata, and topped with a few fresh kumquat slices. This dish tastes like something you’d order at a coastal Mediterranean restaurant—but you can pull it together in under 20 minutes.