One of the quickest and most delicious ways to cook fish is to fry it in batter. The word "batter" is of French origin (clair) and translated into Russian means "liquid". The fish prepared in this way turns out to be aromatic, juicy and appetizing. If you show your imagination and use different types of batter, then tilapia fillet can become a favorite dish on your table.
1. Tilapia - what kind of fish is it?
The tilapia fish or king bass is a family of fish that includes over a hundred different species.
Tilapia lives in water bodies of tropical and subtropical regions. Can live in both fresh and salt water. Most often, this fish is bred in artificial conditions, it is unpretentious and omnivorous. The tilapia carcass weighs 1, 2 - 1, 5 kg. The meat of this fish is tender in texture, white in color, has a light and pleasant taste. Fish fillets are a rich source of easily digestible protein and are low in calories. Fish is very valuable in its fat, consisting of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6), which is completely absorbed by the body.
2. General principles of preparation
You can prepare tilapia in different ways, combining it with vegetables, cereals, herbs and spices. In order for the fish to preserve its delicate taste and shape during the cooking process, it is recommended to cook it in batter. Tilapia is sold as a frozen fillet and in order for the fish not to lose its flavor, it should be defrosted in advance and slowly. Before frying, the fish is washed, the fillets are cut into small pieces, sprinkled with lemon juice or table vinegar diluted with water. Add herbs and spices if desired. The fish is left for about half an hour to marinate and soak in the aroma of spices.
Batter is a liquid dough in which fish or other foods are dipped before frying. This dish is delicious and crispy. The batter in most cases consists of flour, eggs and various fillers. There are several options for batter: salty, sweet, unleavened and yeasty. Salted or unleavened batter is most suitable for preparing tilapia fillets.
The prepared fish fillet is dried with a paper towel and rolled in flour. This must be done to prevent the dough from dripping off the fish. Then the fillet is dipped in batter and fried in a preheated pan with oil. The fish is fried on both sides until golden brown. Put the finished tilapia on a plate covered with a napkin. This will allow excess oil to drain.
3. Fillet of tilapia in batter
Ingredients:
480 gr. fillet of tilapia;
3-4 tbsp. l. wheat flour;
2 eggs;
a pinch of salt;
pepper;
50 ml of water.
Cooking tilapia fillets step by step:
- Defrost fish at room temperature
- Cut the tilapia fillet into portions
- Sprinkle each piece with salt and pepper
- Refrigerate fish for 20 minutes
Step by step batter preparation:
- Pour flour into a bowl
- Add eggs
- Pour in water and mix thoroughly. The batter should be free of lumps.
- Add salt and pepper at the end
- Pour vegetable oil into a hot frying pan
- Dip the fish fillet in batter and fry in a pan for 2-3 minutes on each side
As a side dish for fish, you can serve boiled rice or stewed vegetables.
4. Fillet of tilapia in green batter
Ingredients:
400 gr. fillet of tilapia;
80 gr. wheat flour;
3 yolks;
a pinch of salt;
pepper;
50 ml of water;
50 ml of vegetable oil;
1 tbsp. l vinegar;
parsley (half a bunch);
green onions (half a bunch);
cilantro 2-3 sprigs.
Cooking tilapia fillets step by step:
- Defrost fish at room temperature
- Cut the tilapia fillet into portions
- Mix vinegar with water
- Salt and pepper the fish, pour over the marinade and stir
Step by step batter preparation:
- Separate the yolks from the whites, add water and whisk
- Gradually introduce sifted flour
- Finely chop the greens and combine with the egg-flour mixture
- Breaded the fish first in flour, then in batter
- Fry in a preheated pan for 2-3 minutes on each side
When serving, tilapia fillets in green batter can be poured with soy sauce, garnished with a lemon wedge and a sprig of herbs.
5. Diet batter for tilapia fillets
This recipe is perfect for those who are looking after their health, following a vegetarian diet, or following a fast.
Ingredients:
450 gr. fillet of tilapia;
150 ml of kefir;
4-5 st. l. oat or wheat bran;
30 ml olive oil;
dill;
salt;
pepper;
paprika;
rosemary;
lemon - 1 pc.
Cooking tilapia fillets step by step:
- Defrost fish at room temperature
- Cut the tilapia fillet into portions
- Juice one lemon and pour it over the fish
- Marinate in a cool place for 30 minutes
Step by step batter preparation:
- Pour kefir into a bowl, salt, add spices and stir
- Wash greens, chop finely and pour into kefir
- Add enough bran to this mass so that the batter acquires the consistency of thick sour cream
- Dip the fish first in flour, then in batter
- Fry the tilapia in olive oil or ghee for 2-3 minutes on each side
As a side dish, you can serve boiled brown rice or steamed vegetables.
6. Fillet of tilapia in cheese batter
Ingredients:
800 gr. fillet of tilapia;
2 eggs;
250 g flour;
200 ml of kefir;
200 gr. hard cheese;
50 ml of vegetable oil;
salt.
This recipe does not require pre-marinating the fish. Just defrost it and cut it into portions.
Step by step batter preparation:
- In a bowl, mix flour with kefir and eggs
- Add a pinch of salt and beat with a whisk or mixer. You should get a thick mass
- Grate the cheese on a fine grater, add to the mixture and mix
- Dip the fish into the resulting batter, roll on both sides
- Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown
Tilapia in cheese batter can be served with boiled potatoes and fresh vegetable salad.
Important! If you have salted cheese, the batter will be quite salty, so you don't need to add salt to the fish.
7. Spicy batter with beer and mustard
A very delicate and unusual taste is obtained from batter with the addition of everyone's favorite intoxicating drink. And the taste of mustard in an egg-flour mixture will give the fish a spicy note.
Ingredients:
200 ml of light beer;
30 gr. dry mustard;
1 egg;
100-120 gr. flour;
30 ml of vegetable oil;
1 tsp lemon juice;
salt;
2-3 cloves of garlic;
pepper;
paprika;
cilantro.
Cooking tilapia fillets step by step:
- Defrost fish at room temperature
- Cut the tilapia fillet into portions
- Sprinkle the fish with lemon juice
- Marinate in a cool place for 30 minutes
Step by step batter preparation:
- Beat the egg with salt and spices, add dry mustard and mix everything
- Pour vegetable oil into the mixture, squeeze out the garlic and gradually add flour
- When the mass becomes homogeneous, dilute the batter with beer so that it acquires the consistency of thick sour cream
- Breaded the fish first in flour, then in batter
- Fry in a preheated pan for 2-3 minutes on each side
Canned green peas with mashed potatoes can be served as a side dish with fish.
8. Useful tips and tricks
To prepare batter with any of the above recipes, you can take not only wheat, but also corn, buckwheat or rice flour.
To check the consistency of the batter, you need to dip a spoon in it, if the surface of the spoon is not translucent and is evenly covered with dough, then the batter is prepared correctly.
It is better to make the batter in advance, about an hour before cooking. It is better to keep the finished batter in the refrigerator, then the dough will become more homogeneous and elastic.
Before frying food in batter, you need to warm up the pan well, otherwise the dough will drain and the dish will not turn out beautiful and tasty.
If, when frying fish in batter, cover the pan with a lid, then the crust of the dough will become soft and juicy, if fried with the lid open, it will be crispy.
Do not put too many fish fillet pieces in the pan. They can stick to each other and have an unappetizing appearance.
If you cook the batter with carbonated water, it will be more airy, tender and non-greasy.
To reduce the number of calories in the dish, you can not fry the fish in batter, but bake it in the oven.
