Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fillet

Make mealtime exciting and satisfying by cooking this Crispy Pan Fried Fish recipe! It is one of the healthiest and best fish recipes I cooked for my family. It’s crunchy and crispy on the outside and ultimately juicy on the inside!

Well-seasoned and lightly coated in the delicious batter for that extra crispiness!

How to Make Crispy PanFried Fish Fillet

Frying haddock is just as easy as frying chicken! If you want to learn how to do it, this Crispy Pan Fried Fish recipe is perfect!

Ingredients

Haddock

For the main ingredient of this dish, we will be using haddock. One of the best things about haddock is that it’s low in calories. So you get fried haddock fish without feeling guilty about it. 

Haddock is also good for your heart, immunity, digestion, sleep, hormones, and energy. It certainly makes the best Crispy Pan Fried Fish recipe!

Corn flour and plain flour

This Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fillet recipe will use two kinds of flour: cornflour and plain flour. Corn flour serves to crisp up the dish, while plain flour makes the dish crunchier.

I also use these for Crispy Chicken Wings, Chin Chin, and Fish Rolls!

Seasoning

For seasoning, you’ll need basic kitchen spices like paprika, sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, baking soda, and baking powder. 

The ingredients above not only add crispness to the dish but also have a tremendous effect on the taste of the fish.

Apple cider vinegar

Any vinegar can prolong the life of the dish. It prevents spoilage and reduces the strong fish taste and smell. In fact, this vinegar also helps keep the flesh plump and soft. 

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil contains antioxidants and skin-protecting properties that can benefit your overall health. It can have significant effects on your heart health. 

Once you have prepared your ingredients, let’s start making the best crispy fried haddock dish!

Directions

Frying haddock is similar to how you fry other foods but let’s add twists to this recipe, shall we?

Prepare the haddock fillet

1. Remove the pin bones with tweezers.
2. Proceed to slice the fillet with a knife.
3. Sprinkle and pat the seasoning over the fillet.
4.  Coat the haddock with flour.
5. For the batter, combine the plain flour, cornflour, sea salt, all-purpose seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, baking powder, baking soda, and water in a bowl.
6. Then, add apple cider vinegar to the batter.
7. Dip the haddock fillet in the mixture and allow the excess batter to drip back into the bowl completely.
8. Lightly coat the haddock in flour once more.
9. Coat the haddock in plain flour for extra crispiness.

Frying the crispy pan fried fish

1. Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium-low heat.
2. Fry the fish for 5 minutes.
3. Use tongs to turn it onto the other side once the crust becomes crispy and golden.
4. Fry for a few more minutes or until done.
5. Use a strainer skimmer to remove it from the oil to eliminate excess oil. 
6. Finally, transfer to a tray lined with a kitchen towel.

To know how to make better Crispy Fried Haddock, check out these tips you can do!

Tips for Better Crispy Pan Fried Fillet

Buying Quality Haddock

• If you buy the filleted and pin-boned haddock, then check if the trims are neat and the flesh is firm.
• The fillet should be closely packed without gaps.
• Once you observe that the fish has a whitish film, it means that the fish is dehydrated.
• When it comes to coloring, it should be evenly colored without darkened areas. 
• To make sure that it’s fresh, the ice in the display section alone can be an indication of freshness.
• Look for fish displayed on clean ice.
• When it comes to packaging, choose ones that have dry and clean packaging materials. 
• You can also have a sniff. If you smell ammonia or a fishy odor, the fish may be unsuitable for cooking already.
• Touch the flesh of the fish, and if your finger bounces back without dents on the fish, you have yourself fresh fish. 

Storing and Preparing Haddock Fish

• Let’s say you already purchased your fish, but you won’t cook it for a few days. What’s the best way to store it, and how can you prepare it before cooking?

• If you’re planning on storing it in the fridge, surround it with ice to prevent rot.
• The best storage method is to freeze it. 
• For fish fillets, you may store them in resealable bags.
• Remove as much air as you can from the plastic bag before sealing. You can put ice at the bottom of the bag before putting it in your fish fillet. 

• Freeze or refrigerate the fish fillet within two hours to keep the flesh fresh and firm.
• Note that if you keep haddock in the fridge, it’s best to use it within 1 to 2 days.
• If you store it in the freezer, then you can use it for up to 6 months. 
• Don’t leave the haddock to thaw at room temperature when preparing to cook.
• Leave it in the refrigerator overnight to prepare it for next-day cooking.
• However, six to eight hours may be enough to thaw haddock in the fridge for cooking. 

How to Cook Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fillet

While it sounds easy, there are a lot of factors that can affect the dishes. For instance, temperature plays a significant role in frying fish.

The fish might burn and adhere to the pan if the oil is too hot. But the fish might cook in its liquid if the oil is not heated enough. 

Next, refrain from turning the fish from time to time to cook the fish properly. Letting it fry for 5 minutes on each side will also ensure it’s evenly cooked. Don’t overcrowd the fish in the pan for the best results. 

You can also try frying in oil and butter combined to create a more heat-resistant frying fat. Pour the oil in first, followed by the butter. Once the butter stops spluttering, you can add in the fish. 

How to Fillet Your Haddock Fish for Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fillet

If you bought whole fresh fish and you want to know how to fillet it, this guide can help you. 

1. Cut around the head of the fish and use the pectoral fin as your guide. 
2. Run your knife on one side of the backbone down to the tail. 
3. From the head, cut through the gut of the fish. 
4. Next, cut through the flesh to make one fillet. 
5. Repeat the same process on the other side. You can start from the head or the tail.
6. You can trim the fillet for smoother edges of the haddock. 

Filleting your fish can take time and practice, so if you don’t have enough time to fillet your haddock, you can buy the packaged haddock fillet. 

Variations

Aside from haddock, cod, flounder, catfish, and tilapia are suitable substitutes for deep frying.

You can also use herbs and spices such as mixed herbs, mace, mustard powder, allspice, cardamom, and more!

Recommended Tools

• Deep frying pan: Fry the fish in a deep pan.
• Strainer skimmer: Take the fish out of the pan using this tool.
• Tongs: Toss the haddock in the oil with tongs.
• Knife: Fillet the dish with a knife.
• Bowl: Prepare the batter in a bowl.
• Tray: Serve the fish on a tray.

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How to Serve Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fillet

You can serve the fried haddock as it is on a plate, but you can also try adding some side dishes or sauces to make the dish more interesting. 

Fish can be served with vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, and broccoli. For side dishes, it goes well with the following:

• Leftover Fried Rice
• Couscous
• Bulgur Wheat
• Steamed Plantains
• Jollof Rice
• Mashed Potatoes
• Egusi Soup

On the other hand, if you want to present more flavor to the fish, you may opt for tasteful sauces like lemon sauce, fried seafood dipping sauce, and parsley sauce. 

Furthermore, you can serve fish with these refreshing drinks:

• Orange Juice
• Pomegranate Juice
• Zobo Drink
• Iced Tea

Storage Tips for Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fillet

Here’s how you can store fried fish for consumption in the following days:

• At room temperature: Don’t leave the fried haddock at room temperature for longer than two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make fried fish crispy?

The secret to crispy fried fish is the coating! You can coat it twice or even thrice to thicken the crust. Like this recipe, you can use two kinds of flour for that extra crunch. I also suggest adding baking powder and baking soda for better texture.

How long should you pan-fry fish fillet?

Fish fillet usually cooks for about 3 to 5 minutes. However, it still depends on how thick or thin the slices are. Thin fillets cook faster, so you must keep an eye on them!

What’s the best way to cook fish in a frying pan?

The best way to cook fish is to ensure the oil is hot enough. Also, wait for the bottom edges to become golden brown and crispy before turning them over. Flipping the fish onto the other side too soon can break it apart.

How do you keep haddock from falling apart while frying?

What keeps fish intact while cooking or frying is usually the coating or breading that you use. For instance, add some breadcrumbs or cornmeal to secure the fish.

For this recipe, keeping it intact is one of the reasons why cornflour and plain flour are suggested ingredients.