Salt and Pepper Fish (salt and pepper fish fillets)

Salt and pepper fish is a quick and simple dish that features crispy fish with a rich savory seasoning. You can either serve it as an appetizer or a main dish over rice. {Gluten-Free}

Jiao Yan Yu Pian — Salt and Pepper Fish (salt and pepper fish fillets) 26

I’ve shared Salt and Pepper Chicken and Salt and Pepper Pork Chops in the past. Today I want to share one of my favorite ways to enjoy white fish filets – salt and pepper fish.

Slightly different from my previous recipes, this one only uses a thin coating. Without using a lot of oil or deep-frying, you will get perfectly cooked fish pieces that are tender on the inside and crispy crunchy on the outside. The crispy fish slices are further tossed together with aromatics and dried chili peppers for a rich taste that’s super appetizing.

Salt and pepper fish ingredients

What type of fish to use

My favorite fish to use in salt and pepper fish is catfish filet. It’s quite fatty and holds together relatively well once cooked. Other white fish filets such as tilapia, sea bass or sole also work.

Try finding the freshest fish possible (the perfect choice would be live fish), so the fish filet holds together much better. But if you follow my recipe, you can use pretty much any regular frozen fish filet without issue.

How to cut the fish

To prevent the fish from falling apart during cooking, try to slice it into short pieces. What I like to do is:

Tilt the knife to a 45 degree angle
Slice the fish filet into irregular pieces that are thin on the edges and thick in the middle

This way, the thin edges will crisp up and become a bit chewy, while the inside stays tender.

How to slice fish — Salt and Pepper Fish (salt and pepper fish fillets) 27

Set up

When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:

Marinated fish coated in cornstarch
Salt and white pepper
Sliced aromatics (garlic and green onion)
Spices (dried chili pepper, Sichuan peppercorns)
Cilantro (optional)

Salt and pepper fish ingredients — Salt and Pepper Fish (salt and pepper fish fillets) 28

Homemade salt and pepper fish — Salt and Pepper Fish (salt and pepper fish fillets) 29

How to make salt and pepper fish

Pan fry the fish until just cooked
Gently cook the aromatics and spices to release fragrance
Add back the fish and salt and pepper
Stir everything together

How to prevent the fish from falling apart

Fish filet slices will become very fragile once cooked through and can easily be broken apart when stirring. The best way to prevent the fish from falling apart is:

Slice the fish into short pieces
Use minimal oil to coat the pan and high heat, so the fish cooks quickly on the outside without overcooking the inside
Cook the fish until just cooked (or even slightly undercooked) during pan frying, because the fish will continue to cook once you add it back into the pan later
Gently stir the fish and the salt and pepper together with a spatula without over stirring

That said, even if the fish falls apart a bit, the result will still be tasty.

How to serve salt and pepper fish

Salt and pepper fish is a great appetizer and it pairs well with beer or a cold drink. When I want a quick meal, I also like to serve it over steamed rice for a one-bowl meal.

Homemade salt and pepper fish close up — Salt and Pepper Fish (salt and pepper fish fillets) 31

Other delicious appetizer

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