Sea Bass with Citrus Salsa

Dinner-party elegance in a 20-minute dish? It's possible, when you start with great ingredients that require little embellishment. Here, we use sea bass, a tender, mild-flavored fish with a lovely buttery quality. There are several sustainable options to choose from (Atlantic black sea bass, for one), so ask your fishmonger to ensure you're making a responsible choice. You can also use cod, sablefish (also called black cod), striped bass, or barramundi with great results. Any of these white-fleshed fish will take well to the bright flavors of the simple grapefruit-and-orange topping.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 4 (6 ounce) skinless sea bass fillets
  • 1 small pink grapefruit
  • 1 small navel orange
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
  • ¼ cup thinly vertically sliced white onion