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Chef John’s Crispy Fried Fish 2 Ways

Chef John’s Crispy Fried Fish 2 Ways
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Learn Chef John’s tips on making Crispy Fried Fish 2 ways with a beautiful golden crust and juicy flesh inside.

Recipe
PRE TIME: 20 min
COOKING TIME: 10 min
TOTAL TIME: 30 min
2 SERVING
Ingredients:
  • 1 lb. boneless sole fish fillets
  • 【Marinade】
  • 1 pinch salt (to taste)
  • 1 pinch black pepper (to taste)
  • 0.25 cup white wine
  • 【Coating】
  • 2 cup corn starch
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 cup bread crumbs
  • 5 slice bread, diced
  • 【Tartar sauce】
  • 0.5 oz. onion, minced
  • 0.5 oz. pickles, minced
  • 1 tbsp. parsley, minced
  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar
  • 1 pinch ground rosemary
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper
  • 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
  • 1 large hard-boiled egg
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 【Sweet & Sour sauce】
  • 2 tbsp. chili garlic sauce
  • 0.5 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp. hoisin sauce
  • 0.5 oz. sugar
  • 1 pinch black pepper
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp. minced cilantro, to taste
  • 0.25 cup white vinegar
Directions:
Step 1
Step 1
1
Cut out the brown surface of the bread slices first, then cut the bread into dices. Set aside.
Step 2
Step 2
2
Split each fish fillet from the middle lengthwise. Then slant the knife at 45 degrees, slice the fish into chunky pieces.
Step 3
Step 3
3
In a bowl, combine fish with a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper, ¼cup/60ml white wine. Mix well.
Step 4
Step 4
4
Coat the marinated fish pieces with starch first, then coat with egg liquid.
Step 4-1
Step 4-1
5
Way 1: coat half of the fish pieces with diced fresh bread, pad the bread dices to make them stick to the fish.
Step 5-1
Step 5-1
6
Way 1: Heat oil in a large, straight-sided skillet over medium heat to 220°F-250°F/100°C -120° C. Working in batches, fry about 6 breaded fillets at a time until golden brown and cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove from oil and drain. Repeat with remaining fish.
Step 4-2
Step 4-2
7
Way 2: coat the other half of the fish pieces with bread crumbs.
Step 5-2
Step 5-2
8
Way 2: Heat oil in a large, straight-sided skillet over medium heat to 220°F-250°F/100°C -120° C. Working in batches, fry about 6 breaded fillets at a time until golden brown and cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove from oil and drain. Repeat with remaining fish.
Step 6-1
Step 6-1
9
Tartar Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine all Tartar Sauce ingredients together and use a fork to mince the hard-boiled egg. Mix well.
Step 6-2
Step 6-2
10
Sweet and Sour Sauce: in a mixing bowl, combine all Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients together and blend well.
Step 7
Step 7
11
Serve the fried fish with both sauces on the side.