Chinese Salt and Pepper Fried Fish Fillet
Simplicity at its finest. Fried tilapia sautéed with salt, pepper, scallions, and red chilies. Ready in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds tilapia fillets 1 inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- oil for frying
- 1 tablespoon scallions white parts only
- 1 thai red chili sliced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ⅛ teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add tilapia, corn starch, and salt. Coat the fish and let it sit for 15 minutes to absorb the corn starch.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet on medium high heat with half an inch of oil to 375-400°F.
- Fry the fish for 5 minutes, flipping halfway, or until cooked through. Work in batches as needed and drain on a wire rack.
- Pour all of the oil into a bowl and set aside.
- In the same skillet on medium high heat, sauté scallions and chilis for 30 seconds. Add in the fish, black pepper, sugar, and salt to taste. Gently toss to coat the fish in the seasonings and serve immediately.
Notes
- Nutrition estimate does not include oil absorbed during frying.
- Fry in batches to prevent the oil temperature from dropping too much.
- Once the fish is in the pan, do not flip it until halfway through cooking. If you flip it too early, the crust may not have formed and will break the fish.
- Adjust the cook time depending on the fish you use and thickness. Test one by cutting it in half and look for an opaque and flaky center.
- Add some aromatics like ginger and garlic. Try ½ teaspoon of each for some extra flavor!
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 34gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 380mgPotassium: 524mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
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