Best 5 Pan Fried Whitefish Recipes

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Pan-fried whitefish is a classic dish that is both simple to prepare and packed with flavor. The delicate taste of the whitefish pairs perfectly with a crispy, golden-brown crust, and the addition of herbs and spices can create a variety of flavor combinations to suit any palate. This article presents three versatile recipes for pan-fried whitefish: a classic pan-fried whitefish with lemon and herbs, a flavorful pan-fried whitefish with almond crust, and a zesty pan-fried whitefish with tomato and caper sauce. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions and cooking tips to ensure perfectly cooked fish with a crispy exterior and tender, flaky interior. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or an elegant dish for a special occasion, these pan-fried whitefish recipes are sure to impress.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

PAN-ROASTED FISH FILLETS WITH HERB BUTTER



Pan-Roasted Fish Fillets With Herb Butter image

A blast of heat in a cast-iron pan and a basting of golden butter does wonders for plain fish fillets. This life-changing method is adopted from a former chef and current fishmonger, Mark Usewicz of Mermaid's Garden in Brooklyn, who also teaches cooking classes in topics like "How to Cook Fish in a New York City Apartment." The cooking time is so short that the smell - which, if your fish is fresh and not funky, should not be overpowering - will dissipate quickly. And in the meantime, you have an easy dinner of tender fish with a toothsome crust, anointed with nutty, lemony brown butter and perfumed with herbs. You can use virtually any fish fillet, skin on or off, as long as it is not too thick. If the butter is browning too fast, reduce the heat and add a nut of cold butter to prevent scorching, or squeeze in the juice of half a lemon.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories     dinner, lunch, quick, main course

Time 20m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 5- to 6-ounce fish fillets, like black bass, haddock, fluke, striped bass, tilefish, snapper or salmon, 1/2- to 1-inch thick
Salt and ground black pepper
3 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 sprigs fresh thyme, tarragon, chives or another herb
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley, optional
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Pat fillets dry with a paper towel. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Heat a heavy 10-inch nonstick or cast-iron skillet over high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil. Place the fillets in the pan, skin side down (if applicable), laying them down away from your body. If fillets have skin, press down gently with a spatula for about 20 seconds to prevent curling.
  • Lower heat to medium and let sizzle until fish is golden and caramelized around edges, about 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully flip fillets and add butter and thyme to pan. Tilt pan slightly to let the melted butter pool at one end. Use a spoon to baste the fish with the pooled butter. Continue basting until golden all over and cooked through, 45 to 90 seconds more, depending on the thickness of your fish. Serve immediately with chopped parsley (if using) and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 461, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 37 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 29 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 471 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 1 gram

EASY PAN-FRIED FISH FILLET



Easy Pan-Fried Fish Fillet image

This is a very easy method to make any type of fish fillets. Choose mild-flavored fish - flounder, halibut, cod, catfish, or tilapia are great candidates.

Provided by Anonymous

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Seafood Main Dish Recipes     Halibut

Time 15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 (5 ounce) mild white fish fillets
1 lemon, juiced
salt to taste
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
4 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Steps:

  • Wash fish fillets under running cold water and dry with a paper towel. Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt on both sides.
  • Combine flour and Chinese five-spice powder in a shallow bowl. Dip fish fillets into the flour mixture so they are covered on both sides.
  • Heat canola and sesame oils in a large skillet over medium heat. Add fish to hot oil and pan-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn and continue cooking until fish flakes easily with a fork, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 306 calories, Carbohydrate 9.5 g, Cholesterol 60.8 mg, Fat 18.6 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 26.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 125.9 mg

PAN FRIED FISH



Pan Fried Fish image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 large or two small skin-on fish fillets, about 8 ounces (rainbow trout, small salmon, brown trout)
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Flour for dredging
2 tablespoon Canola oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoons capers, drained
1 lemon, juiced

Steps:

  • Heat a heavy pan over medium high heat.
  • Season fish on meat side with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge fish in flour and shake off excess. When pan is good and hot, add Canola oil followed immediately by 1 tablespoon butter. As soon as foaming subsides, place fish in pan with the skin side down. Jiggle pan for the first 10 seconds to keep the fish from sticking. Cook until golden crust forms on meat. Carefully turn fish away from you and again jiggle pan for the first few seconds. Cook until skin turns golden brown. Remove to a warm plate.
  • Pour out the cooking fat, add remaining butter and quickly fry the capers. Remove pan from the heat, add lemon juice to pan and swirl. Pour sauce over the fish and serve.

PAN-ROASTED FISH WITH FRIED CAPERS



Pan-Roasted Fish With Fried Capers image

Salt-packed capers have become a growing presence in grocery stores. They tend to be larger than capers cured in vinegar and brine, more like the flower buds that they are, and pleasingly vegetal in flavor. When you fry them in olive oil, the oil intensifies their saltiness and turns their outer leaves into a crisp shell, creating delicious crunchy bits that can be used as both seasoning and texture. Here, they stud fillets of pan-roasted striped bass, but you could use any meaty white fish like cod or halibut. It's a bright and flavorful alternative to the usual weeknight fish dish, and it can be on the table in about a half hour.

Provided by Amanda Hesser

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, seafood, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 tablespoons salt-packed or brined capers
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for frying
1 clove garlic, crushed
4 fillets striped bass, or other meaty white fish like cod or halibut (about 2 pounds)
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Soak the salt-packed capers in water for 10 minutes, drain, rinse, then thoroughly pat dry. (If using brined capers, drain them and pat dry.) Pour 1/2 inch olive oil into a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot enough to toast a bread crumb in 30 seconds, add the capers. Be careful, the oil may sputter. Fry until the capers fluff up and begin to brown on the edges, 30 to 60 seconds. Drain the capers on a paper towel.
  • Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick sauté pan. Place over medium-high heat and add the garlic clove. Season the fish with salt and pepper. When the garlic bubbles on the edges, lay the fish in the pan, skin side down. Sauté until browned on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes, then put the pan in the oven and roast until the fish is just cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes.
  • Set a fillet on each of 4 plates. Sprinkle the fried capers over the fillets and serve with wedges of lemon.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 288, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 41 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 590 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams

PAN FRIED WHITEFISH



Pan Fried Whitefish image

Easy to make. Note1: Don't fry at to high of a temp or the coating will burn before the fish cooks. Note2: I like to serve with steamed broccoli and baked potato or wild rice.

Provided by ChasMan

Categories     Whitefish

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 (8 ounce) white fish fillets, skin removed. (trout, tilapia, etc.)
21 saltines (finely crushed)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup parsley
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 -4 tablespoons olive oil
lemon slice

Steps:

  • Combine crackers, parmesan, and parsley in a shallow bowl.
  • Combine flour and pepper in another bowl.
  • Place lemon juice and beaten egg in separate bowls.
  • Heat oil in 12" frying pan.
  • Dip fish in lemon juice, then flour, then egg, and finally the crackers. Place fish in a single layer into the frying pan and fry over low - medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side. Fish should flake when done.
  • Drain on paper towel and serve with lemon slices. Garnish with rosemary, parsley, and dill if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 450.2, Fat 18.1, SaturatedFat 3.7, Cholesterol 211.5, Sodium 449.1, Carbohydrate 20.7, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 0.6, Protein 48.5

Tips:

  • For the best results, use fresh whitefish fillets that are about 4 ounces each and 1 inch thick.
  • If you don't have whitefish, you can substitute another mild-flavored fish, such as tilapia, cod, or flounder.
  • Season the fish fillets with salt, pepper, and any other desired spices before cooking.
  • To ensure that the fish cooks evenly, use a large skillet that is big enough to accommodate all of the fillets in a single layer.
  • Heat the oil in the skillet over medium-high heat until it is shimmering, but not smoking.
  • Carefully place the fish fillets in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
  • Serve the pan-fried whitefish immediately with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Conclusion:

Pan-fried whitefish is a quick and easy weeknight meal that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The mild flavor of the whitefish pairs well with a variety of sauces and seasonings, making it a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Enjoy!

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