Absolutely 😋🐟 — Crispy Fried Red Snapper is golden, crunchy on the outside, tender and juicy inside — perfect as a main dish with rice, veggies, or a spicy sauce. Here’s a detailed recipe:
🐟 Crispy Fried Red Snapper
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2–4)
- 1 whole red snapper (about 1–1.5 lb), cleaned, scaled, and gutted
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch (for extra crispiness)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika or cayenne (optional, for spice)
- 1–2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1–2 tbsp lemon juice
- Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil works best)
- Lemon wedges and fresh parsley for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the fish
- Rinse and pat dry the red snapper thoroughly with paper towels.
- Make 3–4 diagonal slits on each side of the fish (helps it cook evenly).
- Season inside and out with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic, and lemon juice.
2️⃣ Prepare the coating
- In a shallow plate, mix flour and cornstarch.
- Dredge the fish in the mixture, shaking off excess.
3️⃣ Fry the fish
- Heat enough oil in a skillet or deep pan to cover at least half the fish.
- Heat oil over medium-high until hot (test by dropping a pinch of flour — it should sizzle).
- Carefully place the fish in the oil. Fry 4–6 minutes per side depending on size.
- Fish is done when skin is golden brown and crispy, and flesh flakes easily with a fork.
4️⃣ Serve
- Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.
- Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.
- Serve immediately with your choice of sides: steamed vegetables, rice, fries, or salad.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Extra crispy: Double-dredge in flour/cornstarch mixture or add a pinch of baking powder.
- Spicy twist: Rub fish with chili powder or cayenne before dredging.
- Pan-to-oven method: Sear both sides in a skillet, then finish in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5–10 min for even cooking.
- Marinate first: Optional 15–20 min in garlic, lemon, and a little oil for added flavor.
If you want, I can also give a West African-style version with spicy ginger-garlic marinade and fried until extra crispy, which is insanely flavorful 😌.
Do you want me to do that?
