How to quickly and tasty cook fish in a pan: 7 recipes

 Frying is a popular way of cooking fish. But not all housewives get that same crispy crust. From the article you will learn what types of fish are suitable for frying and how to cook it deliciously.

Frying fish in a pan: preparation

Before you start frying, it is important to properly prepare the product. 

Choose the right variety 

Some types are better for frying than others. For example, tilapia, catfish, and cod are all great options. Salmon and trout are not always a good choice, as they tend to fall apart during the cooking process.

clear

Rinse the carcass under cold water and remove the scales. This can be done by running a knife along the scales in the direction opposite to their growth. Do not forget to cleanse the inside, removing all internal organs.

Cut to desired size

After the carcass is cleaned, it's time to cut it to the desired size. Cut the carcass into pieces no more than 1 centimeter thick. This will help ensure the meat cooks evenly and doesn't take too long.

dry up

Use paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to dry the pieces on both sides. This will help the meat cook evenly and avoid splattering.

spice up 

You can use various seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder or lemon juice. Don't forget to season both sides of the fish evenly.

Heat up the pan

Now it's time to heat up the pan. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and heat it over medium heat. Any type of oil can be used, such as vegetable oil or olive oil .

Put in a frying pan

When hot, place the fish in the pan, skin side down, if available. Do not overfill the pan, as this may cause the meat to simmer rather than fry.

cook up

Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.

Take out the fish 

When ready, remove from the pan and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil. Serve with your favorite side dish.

How to cook fish in a pan: what types are suitable

Fried fish is a popular and delicious cooking method. Some varieties are too tender and fall apart during frying, while others may have a strong flavor.

• Tilapia - affordable. It has a mild flavor and firm texture, making it ideal for frying. Can be seasoned with various spices and herbs, and served with dipping sauces.
• Cod is a white fish with a mild flavor and firm texture. Can be fried in batter or with simple seasoning.
• Catfish - has a mild taste and dense white flesh, which is ideal for frying. Soma can be cooked in batter and fried in a pan.
• Trout - characterized by tender flesh. You can roll in flour, fry in a pan with the addition of several herbs and spices.
• Haddock - similar to cod. It has a mild flavor and firm texture, making it ideal for frying. 
• Perch is a freshwater fish with a pleasant taste and tender flesh, ideal for frying. You can roll in cornmeal, fry in a pan with the addition of several herbs and spices.

How long to fry fish in a pan

First, it is important to choose the right frying pan. You will need a dish that is large enough to hold the fish. Non-stick coating is a good choice, will prevent sticking, make it easier to flip.

Next, you need to heat up the oil. You need enough oil to cover the bottom, but not enough oil for fish to swim in . A good rule of thumb is to use 1 to 1.5 cm of oil.

When it's hot, it's time to add the fillets. Place skin-side down on the pan if it has skin, then press down gently with a spatula to ensure good contact with the heated surface. If the carcass has no skin, you can start on either side.

Now comes the important part: how long to fry the fish. This will depend on the thickness of the pieces and the temperature of the pan. A general rule of thumb is to fry for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. You can use a fork to check if it's cooked through: break off a small piece, see if it's completely opaque.

Fish in a pan: recipes with flour

Fish is one of the most versatile proteins and can be cooked in a variety of ways. One of the most popular cooking methods is roasting with flour. This method produces a crispy golden brown crust.

1. Crispy fried catfish

Ingredients

• 4 catfish fillets;
• 1 cup all-purpose flour;
• 1 tsp garlic powder;
• 1 tsp onion powder;
• 1 tsp paprika;
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper;
• salt and pepper - to taste;
• vegetable oil - for frying.

Cooking

1. Combine flour, garlic, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
2. Roll the catfish fillets in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess.
3. Heat about 1 cm vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Fry the catfish fillets for about 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.
5. Remove fillet from heat, place on paper towel.
6. Serve with dipping sauce and coleslaw.

2. Roasted Tilapia with Lemon and Garlic

Ingredients

• 4 tilapia fillets;
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour;
• 1 tsp garlic powder;
• salt and pepper - to taste;
• 3 art. l. unsalted butter;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice;
• 2 tbsp. l. chopped fresh parsley.

Cooking

1. Mix flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
2. Roll the tilapia fillets in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Add minced garlic, cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Add the tilapia fillets to the pan, fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through.
6. Remove the fillets from the pan, put them on a plate.
7. Add lemon juice, chopped parsley, cook for about 30 seconds until the sauce warms up.
8. Drizzle tilapia fillets with lemon garlic sauce and serve.

Marinated fish in a pan: recipes

Marinating the meat before frying adds extra flavor and keeps the fish juicy and tender.

3. Lemon Garlic Marinated Salmon

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets;
• 1/4 cup olive oil;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• juice from 1 lemon;
• salt and pepper - to taste;
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour;
• 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil.

Cooking

1. In a shallow bowl, mix olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
2. Place the salmon fillet in the marinade . Cover with a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Remove the salmon fillet from the marinade, roll in flour, shaking off excess.
4. Warm up vegetable oil. Fry the pieces for about 3-4 minutes on each side.
5. Serve with roasted vegetables or salad.

4. Marinated cod

Ingredients

• 4 white fish fillets (such as cod or tilapia)
• 1/2 cup olive oil;
• 1/4 cup lemon juice;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• 1 teaspoon of salt;
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper;
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp. l. fresh parsley, chopped.

Cooking

1. In a shallow bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
2. Place the fillets in the marinade and coat well on both sides. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add some olive oil to keep the fish from sticking.
4. Once hot, lay out the fillet, cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.
5. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with your favorite garnish.

5. Teriyaki tuna

Ingredients

• 4 tuna steaks;
• 1/4 cup soy sauce;
• 1/4 cup mirin;
• 2 tbsp. l. honey;
• 1 st. l. rice vinegar;
• 1 st. l. sesame oil;
• 1/2 tsp ginger powder;
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder;
• 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil;
• sesame seeds, chopped green onions for garnish.

Cooking

1. In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger and garlic powder. Heat over medium heat, stir until honey dissolves. Postpone.
2. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add vegetable oil, let it heat up.
3. Lay out the tuna steaks , fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.
4. Reduce heat to medium, drizzle with teriyaki sauce. Cook for 2-3 more minutes.
5. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.
6. Serve with rice and steamed vegetables of your choice.

How to fry fish in batter in a pan: recipes

6. Crispy tempura batter

Ingredients

• 4 fish fillets (halibut, cod or other white fish);
• 1 cup all-purpose flour;
• 1/2 cup cornstarch;
• 1 tsp baking powder;
• 1/2 tsp salt;
• 1 glass of ice water;
• vegetable oil - for frying.

Cooking

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
2. Slowly pour in ice water, whisking continuously until a smooth dough forms.
3. Heat vegetable oil over medium heat.
4. Dip the fish fillets in the batter, coat evenly.
5. Once hot, fry until golden brown on both sides.
6. Place on a plate lined with paper towels.

7. Spicy beer batter

Ingredients

• 4 fish fillets (tilapia, cod or other white fish)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour;
• 1 tsp baking powder;
• 1/2 tsp salt;
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper;
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder;
• 1/2 tsp onion powder;
• 1 glass of cold beer;
• vegetable oil - for frying.

Cooking

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder.
2. Slowly pour in the beer, whisking continuously until a smooth dough forms.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Dip the fish fillet in the batter. 
5. Once hot, fry until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
6. Place on a plate lined with paper towels.