I'm a big fan of fried fish, especially fried tilapia! Today, I'm sharing my easy tilapia recipe, which I am sure you'll love. It's super simple, cooks in under 10 minutes and turns out perfectly crispy.
Fried Tilapia Recipe
Pan fried tilapia is a simple dish that's perfect for lunch or dinner and pairs well with almost any side dish.
In my opinion, frying is the best way to cook tilapia. It takes less than 10 minutes and gives you a crispy outside with a tender inside. The key is to use thick tilapia fillets so they hold together well while frying and don't fall apart.
Since tilapia is a mildly flavored fish, I flavor it with fresh thyme and a tiny amount of cayenne pepper. I also like to garnish with fresh dill.
And don't forget to check out my Baked Tilapia recipe too!
You'll Need
- Tilapia fillets: I prefer slightly thick, fresh tilapia fillets. However, if you’re using frozen tilapia, be sure to thaw them completely and pat them dry with paper towels before cooking.
- Fresh thyme
- Cayenne pepper
- All-purpose flour
- Eggs
- Oil: I use sunflower oil to fry the tilapia fillets, however; vegetable oil is
- Fresh dill, to garnish
- Lemon wedges, to serve
NOTE: All the ingredients I used with measurements are in the recipe card below.
How To Make
Here are step-by-step photos to guide you through the recipe. You’ll find the full, detailed instructions in the recipe card below.
Mix all-purpose flour, cayenne pepper and thyme in a bowl.
Whisk the eggs in a bowl.
Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season them with salt on both sides.
Heat the oil over medium heat. Dip each tilapia fillet in the eggs and then dredge in the flour mixture until all the sides are well coated. Shake it to get rid of the excess flour.
Fry into the hot oil for about 3-4 minutes on each side until crispy and golden brown.
Tip: Take them out of the oil and onto paper towels to get rid of the excess oil. However, DON'T stack them to keep them crispy.
Garnish with fresh dill and serve hot with lemon wedges.
How To Serve
I simply squeeze lemon on top, but, you can also serve them with your favorite sauce or salad. They pair well with fries, Pan Fried Green Beans or Chimichurri Rice.
Helpful Tips
- Use a paper towel to pat the fillets dry gently. This step ensures a crispier tilapia.
- Fry the fillets in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan, to better control flipping the fish.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your fillets, but your tilapia is perfectly done when it flakes easily with a fork or the internal temperature reaches 145°F (62 °C).
More Seafood Recipes
- Thai Fish Cakes
- Cajun Fish Fry
- Seafood Salad Recipe
- Sizzling Garlic Prawns (Gambas Pil Pil)
- Caribbean Seafood Stew
- Spicy Korean-Chinese Seafood Soup (Jjampong)
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Recipe
Fried Tilapia
Equipment
- Frying pan
Ingredients
- 500 g tilapia fillets
- 1 sprig fresh thyme, chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- sunflower oil, for frying
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, to garnish
- 1 lemon cut into wedges, (optional) to serve
Instructions
- Prepare the Flour Mixture: In a mixing bowl, mix all-purpose flour, cayenne pepper and thyme, set aside.
- Prepare the Egg Wash: In another mixing bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Season the Fillets: Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and then season them with salt on both sides.
- Coat the Fillets: Heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, dip each tilapia fillet in the eggs and then dredge in the flour mixture until all the sides are well coated. Shake it to get rid of the excess flour.
- Fry the Tilapia: Fry into the hot oil for about 3-4 minutes on each side until crispy and golden brown.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh dill and serve hot with lemon wedges.
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