Crispy Barramundi with Pineapple Salsa and Coconut Rice

Escape to the tropics with this vibrant seafood dish. Mild, buttery barramundi fillets are seared until the skin is perfectly crispy, then finished with a silky coconut Thai chili sauce and a bright pineapple scallion salsa. The combination of creamy coconut rice and zesty roasted carrots rounds out a meal that feels like a beachside vacation.

This recipe is designed for home cooks looking for a quick yet impressive dinner. With just 40 minutes from start to finish, you can enjoy restaurant-quality flavors without leaving your kitchen. The sweet heat of the chili sauce, the freshness of lime, and the crunch of the salsa make every bite a delight.

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Ingredients

12 ounce CarrotsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce PineappleView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Jasmine RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5.07 ounce Coconut MilkView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce BarramundiView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 ounce Sweet Thai Chili SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 teaspoon SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Vegetable OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F with a rack in the top position. Wash and dry all produce. Trim, peel, and cut carrots diagonally into ½-inch pieces. Drain pineapple and roughly chop. Trim and thinly slice scallions. Zest the lime, then quarter it. Rinse jasmine rice in a fine-mesh strainer until water runs clear.
2. In a small pot, combine ¼ cup coconut milk (shake the can first), ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon sugar, and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, stir in the rice, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15–18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
3. While rice cooks, toss carrots on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on the top rack until golden and tender, 20–25 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine pineapple, scallions, and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to make the salsa.
4. Pat barramundi dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a large drizzle of oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Place the fish skin-side down and cook until the skin is crispy, 4–5 minutes. Flip and cook until opaque and cooked through, 2–3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and wipe out the pan.
5. Return the pan to medium-high heat. Add the sweet Thai chili sauce and remaining coconut milk. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by about half, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in a squeeze of lime juice to taste.
6. Fluff the rice with a fork and season with salt and pepper. Toss the roasted carrots with lime zest. Divide rice, carrots, and barramundi among plates. Spoon the coconut sauce over the fish, top with pineapple salsa, and serve with remaining lime wedges.

Useful Cookware

A few helpful kitchen tools for this recipe, with relevant Amazon picks for each item.

Peeler

OXO Good Grips Swivel PeelerView on AmazonSpring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler, Soft Grip Handle and Ultra Sharp Stainless Steel Blades - Perfect Kitchen Peeler For Veggie, Fruit, Potato, Carrot, Apple - BlackView on AmazonFUHUY Vegetable, Apple Peelers for kitchen, Fruit, Carrot, Veggie, Potatoes Peeler, Y-Shaped and I-Shaped Stainless Steel Peelers, with Ergonomic Non-Slip Handle & Sharp Blade, Good Sturdy (2PCS)View on Amazon

Strainer

Cuisinart, Mesh Strainers, Stainless Steel Mesh Strainers for Kitchen, Fine Mesh Kitchen Strainer Set for Sifting, Straining and Cooking, Ctg-00-3Ms, 3 CountView on Amazon3Pcs Super Wire Extra Fine Mesh Strainer with Handle, Small Medium Large Size Sifter Metal Strainer Set, Stainless Steel Sieve Fine Mesh Strainers for Kitchen Rice Juice Quinoa Food Flour Baking YLYLView on AmazonWinco Strainer with Single Fine Mesh, 8-Inch Diameter, Medium, Stainless Steel, Tan,SilverView on Amazon

Zester

Deiss PRO Lemon Zester & Heavy Duty Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Parmesan Cheese Lemon, Garlic, Nutmeg, Chocolate, Fruits, Vegetables, Ginger Grater - Cheese Shredder & Stainless Steel GraterView on AmazonMicroplane Premium Classic Series Zester 18/8, Black - Lemon Zester & Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Citrus, Parmesan Cheese, Garlic, Ginger, Nutmeg, Chocolate - Stainless Steel GraterView on AmazonOXO Good Grips Etched Zester and GraterView on Amazon

Fine-mesh strainer

3Pcs Super Wire Extra Fine Mesh Strainer with Handle, Small Medium Large Size Sifter Metal Strainer Set, Stainless Steel Sieve Fine Mesh Strainers for Kitchen Rice Juice Quinoa Food Flour Baking YLYLView on AmazonCuisinart, Mesh Strainers, Stainless Steel Mesh Strainers for Kitchen, Fine Mesh Kitchen Strainer Set for Sifting, Straining and Cooking, Ctg-00-3Ms, 3 CountView on AmazonWinco Strainer with Single Fine Mesh, 8-Inch Diameter, Medium, Stainless Steel, Tan,SilverView on Amazon

Small pot

SENSARTE Nonstick Saucepan with Lid, 1.5 Quarts Small Pot with Swiss Granite Coating, Stay-cool Handle, Multipurpose Handy Sauce Pot Small Kitchen Cooking Pot, Induction Comptable, PFOA FreeView on AmazonCuisinart 1.5 Quart Sauce Pan with Cover, Stainless Steel Pot with Lid, Small Kitchen Pots, Dishwasher Safe, Compatible with Induction, Electric, Gas Cooktops, Oven Safe Saucepan, Cool Grip HandlesView on AmazonCuisinart 8919-14 Professional Series 1-Quart Saucepan with Cover, Stainless Steel, Mirror FinishView on Amazon

Baking sheet

GoodCook Everyday Nonstick Baking Sheet Set, 3 Pack Includes Small (13×9) Medium (15×1) and Large (17×11) Pans Carbon Steel Construction Cookie Sheets Bakeware Set, GrayView on AmazonNutriChef 3-Piece Nonstick Kitchen Oven Baking Pans - Premium & Stylish Non-Stick Steel, Commercial Grade Restaurant Quality Metal Bakeware with Red Silicone Handles - Easy to Clean, NCSBS3SView on AmazonNordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet - USA Made Aluminum Commercial Quality Sheet Pan for Baking or Roasting, Encapsulated Galvanized Steel Rim Prevents Warping, 2-PackView on Amazon

Small bowl

Kaytee Stoneware Ceramic Pet Hamster Bowl, Brown, 3-InchView on AmazonDipping Bowls, Soy Sauce Dish Ceramic, 3 OZ Small Serving Bowls for Side Dishes Vintage Blue Stylish Design, Set of 6 Mini Appetizer Plates for Condiment Sushi Ketchup BBQ Party, 4 InchView on AmazonFarielyn-X 3.5in 4oz Small Glass Bowls, Mini Glass Containers, Ramekins, Prep, Pinch Bowl, Stackable Condiment Containers, for Prep, Dips, Nuts, Snacks, Candy Meal Prep Bowls, Dessert BowlsView on Amazon

Large nonstick pan

Tramontina Professional 14-Inch Non Stick Extra Large Frying Pan, Heavy-Gauge Aluminum Skillet with Reinforced Nonstick Coating, Red Handle, Dishwasher and Oven SafeView on AmazonSENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet with Lid, 12 Inch Large Deep Frying Pan, 5 Qt Non Stick Saute Pan with Cover, Induction Pan, Healthy Non Toxic Cooking Pan with Helper Handle, PFOA PFOS FreeView on AmazonFarberware Dishwasher Safe Nonstick Jumbo Cooker Chef's Pan with Lid and Helper Handle, Kitchen Cookware, 6-Quart, BlackView on Amazon

Paper towels

Scott Paper Towels, Choose-A-Sheet, 6 Double Rolls = 12 Regular Rolls (108 Sheets Per Roll)View on AmazonAmazon Basics 2-Ply Flex-Sheets Paper Towels, 12 Basics Rolls = 40 Regular Rolls, Everyday Value with 150 Sheets per Roll, Packaging May VaryView on AmazonBounty Quick-Size Paper Towels, White, 8 Family Triple Rolls = 27 Regular RollsView on Amazon

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use frozen barramundi?

Yes, just thaw it completely in the refrigerator overnight and pat dry before cooking.

What can I substitute for coconut milk?

You can use full-fat coconut cream or even heavy cream, but the flavor will be less tropical.

How do I know when the rice is done?

The rice is tender when all the liquid is absorbed and the grains are fluffy. Let it rest covered for a few minutes before fluffing.