As a southern child, I grew up eating fried fish all the time, especially on Fridays. My family and I like to pair our fish with fries, hushpuppies, or a good cold coleslaw. If at all possible, we always try to find fresh caught fish, or wild caught fish. I’ve fried fish using an air fryer, deep fryer, and stove top. In my opinion, cooking fish on the stove is still the best way to do it! Keep reading for my family’s fried fish recipe.
This recipe is very simple, and I made it so that you can use it on any common fish that is fried! That means that the seasonings below will work great on Whiting, Flounder, Mackerel, or even Catfish! If you’re new to frying fish, this is one of the easiest meals you can make and enjoy! Below I will share a few brief tips to ensure you serve the best southern style fried fish!.
Fried fish is a delicious and comforting meal that is enjoyed around the world. When coated with a flavorful breading and fried to golden perfection, a humble fish fillet can become extraordinary. However, the key to taking your fried fish from bland to brilliant lies in how you season it.
Knowing what seasonings to use and how to properly layer flavors can elevate your fried fish from forgettable to fantastic. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the best practices for seasoning fried fish to create mouthwatering seafood dishes.
Why Proper Seasoning is Crucial for Fried Fish
Frying cooks food quickly at a high heat, which can leave the interior tasting bland if not properly seasoned. Fish fillets also tend to be lean, mild, and flaky. Without seasoning, they can be tasteless and boring.
By layering seasonings, you can make the flavor pop and stand up to the crispy exterior coating. Thoughtfully seasoning the fish before breading will also allow the spices to penetrate the flesh rather than just dusting the surface.
Seasoning is about more than just taste too. It can add lovely aromas, enticing colors, and varied textures to balance the crunchy outside and tender inside of the fish. With the right blend of herbs, spices, and other seasonings, your fried fish will look, smell, taste, and feel fantastic.
Best Practices for Seasoning Fried Fish
Follow these tips to take your fried fish from forgettable to extraordinary with proper seasoning techniques:
Start with High-Quality Fresh Fish
The fresher the fish, the better it will absorb flavors and seasonings. Choose fillets that are translucent looking without discoloration or odor Thinner white fish fillets around 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch thick tend to work best for frying Cod, tilapia, haddock, catfish, and sole are good choices. Make sure the fish is as dry as possible before seasoning to help the coatings adhere.
Season Under the Breading
Rubbing or spraying seasonings directly onto the fish before adding your breading or batter will really boost the flavor. The coating will lock the seasoning into the fish rather than just dusting the exterior. Consider a quick marinade too for extra moistness and taste.
Use Layers of Flavor
No single seasoning can give you the delicious complexity you want. Use a blend of spices, herbs, salt, pepper, and extras like citrus or mustard to round out the flavors. Apply some seasonings under the coating and others into your breading or batter recipe too.
Play with Textures
Crunchy coatings, a soft interior, and seasoning mixes with varied textures make fried fish even more interesting. Use coarse salts, peppercorns, crunchy toasted spices, and dried herbs along with smooth powdered ingredients.
Bring the Heat
Warming spices like cayenne, chili powder, paprika, curry powder, and black pepper add warmth that pairs perfectly with fried fish. Start with small amounts if you don’t want too much heat. You can always add more next time.
Use Restrained Sweetness
A slight sweetness contrasts nicely with the other seasoning flavors but you need to be careful not to overdo it. A touch of sugar, honey, maple syrup or fruit juice works better than large amounts. Otherwise, your fish can end up tasting candied instead of well balanced.
Brighten with Acidity
Lemons, limes, and vinegars all add zing that brightens flavors. Use lemon zest in the breading or a spritz of lime juice on the cooked fish. acids. Acetic acid in vinegars tenderizes and adds moisture too. Apple cider, rice, malt, and white wine vinegars are good options.
aromatics.
Onions, shallots, garlic, ginger, chives, and other aromatics enliven the flavor and aroma of seasoned fried fish. Use them in marinades, dust blends, or mixing into batters and breadings. Infusing oils with them boosts taste too.
Go Beyond Salt and Pepper
While salt and pepper are essential to seasoning fried fish, they shouldn’t be the only flavors used. Branch out with spices like cumin, paprika, coriander, and cayenne. Dried herbs, citrus, mustard, and extras like parmesan or Cajun seasoning get you even more complexity.
Season Every Component
In addition to the fish itself, make sure to season your flour or cornmeal coatings along with any liquids or egg washes used too. Well seasoned breading crisps up deliciously and adds another layer of flavor.
Allow Time to Soak In
Give your seasoned fish at least 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator after applying a rub, marinade, or wet mixture. Overnight is even better to let the fish fully absorb all the flavors. Just keep the fish cold at 40°F or below.
Don’t Forget Finishing Flavors
A sprinkling of fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of garlic butter, a sprinkle of cheese, or a dipping sauce can provide bright finishing notes. Add them after the fried fish is cooked for maximum impact.
Handy Seasoning Blends for Fried Fish
Rather than combining individual herbs and spices, you can use handy pre-made seasoning blends. While you can buy them, making your own allows you to customize the flavors to your exact tastes. Here are some tasty all-purpose options:
Old Bay Seasoning
This iconic Chesapeake Bay seafood blend combines celery salt, paprika, mustard, cloves, allspice, ginger, mace, cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper. Use it in the breading or sprinkle atop cooked fish.
Creole Seasoning
Paprika, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, black pepper, dried oregano, and thyme give this New Orleans blend its robust kick. It’s great on catfish, trout, and tilapia.
Italian Seasoning
This herb blend features the Italian flavors of basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, sage, and thyme. Thezippy mix enhances mild white fish.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Lemon zest and black pepper combine for a tangy, robust seasoning. Use it alone or mix with breadcrumbs as a coating.
Cajun Blackening Spice
This lively blend combines paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, dried oregano, thyme, basil, and black pepper. It makes fish irresistible.
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Warm allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, chili peppers, thyme, garlic, and onions are the hallmarks of this spicy, herby Caribbean blend. It has amazing flavor on fish.
Best Herbs and Spices for Fried Fish
If you want to create your own custom blend, here are some stellar herbs, spices, and flavorings that pair beautifully with fried fish:
- Salt – Essential for enhancing natural flavors. Use flaky sea salt or kosher salt.
- Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper adds heat. Go easy on pre-ground pepper which can get bitter when cooked.
- Paprika – Adds vibrant color and subtle sweet pepper flavor. Smoked paprika is especially delicious.
- Cayenne or Red Pepper Flakes – Infuse heat and chili flavor. Use sparingly if you don’t want too much burn.
- Onion Powder – Provides a savory onion essence without the bulk and moisture of fresh onions.
- Garlic Powder – Imparts aromatic garlicky flavor. Use along with some fresh garlic too.
- Dried Thyme – Earthy herb with hints of mint and lemon. Use dried thyme leaves, not ground powder.
- Dried Oregano – Woodsy and slightly minty flavor. Use more generously than strong herbs like thyme.
- Dried Basil – Slightly sweet and peppery. Pairs beautifully with garlic and lemon.
- Celery Seed – Brings a light, herbaceous celery flavor. Provides depth without being overpowering.
Quick and Easy Fried Fish Seasoning Blends
Here are a few all-purpose seasoning mixes that only require a few ingredients but pack tons of flavor:
Lemon Pepper Fried Fish Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Ranch Fried Fish Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried onion flakes
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
Cajun Fried Fish Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Italian Fried Fish Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Southern Style Fried Fish Recipe
- 1. 5. 5 pounds of fresh fish, like whiting, flounder, mackerel, catfish, and more
- Yellow Mustard as season binder
- 1 package Zatarains New Orleans Style Seasoned Fish Fri Mix
- 1 tsp Cajun Seasoning I used Slap Ya Mama
- 1 tsp Adobo Seasoning
- 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- Canola Oil for frying
- Clean the fish filets, pat them dry, and then cut them into the size you want. Set aside. Note: Fish filets will be crispier when served if they are dried before being seasoned.
- Pour 2-3 inches of canola oil into a large skillet. Put the pan on a big burner and heat the oil over medium-high heat. Put some fish batter crumbs into the oil to see if it’s hot enough. When the heat is ready, the batter should start to fry right away.
- Clean the fish filets and lightly coat both sides with yellow mustard while the oil heats up. Season fish filets with 1/2 tsp of Adobo, 1/2 tsp of Cajun, and 1/2 tsp of Old Bay. Once both sides of the fish are seasoned, put it in a large resealable plastic bag and fill it with Zatarains New Orleans Style Seasoned Fish Fri Mix. Then, add the rest of the seasonings to the fry mix: 1/2 tsp of Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp of Adobo seasoning, and 1/2 tsp of Old Bay seasoning. Close the food storage plastic bag and shake it to mix the seasonings and Fish Fri Mix.
- Add filets to a resealable food storage plastic bag and season both sides of the fish. Close the bag and shake it to cover the filets on both sides with the fish fry mix. Fry the fish in hot oil in small groups for four minutes, turning them once, until they turn golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot. You can also put fish filets in a warm oven until they’re done cooking to keep them crispy. Enjoy!.
The Ultimate Fried Fish Recipe
How do you season fish for frying?
In a clean dry bowl, measure out the cornmeal, flour, paprika, onion granules, garlic granules, lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, parsley, and salt. Mix till all are well combined. It is ready to use. Here’s how to season fish for frying: Add the seasoning to a plate. Clean the fish fillets and dip them in cold water or beer.
How can I prepare fish for kids?
This is really dependent on the personal preference of your children. Some children will eat fish the same way adults do for others you may need to make this more interesting by creating things like homemade fishcakes, fish burger patties, fish balls or by adding this to toast or even pasta. Involving your children in the preparation and cooking process can also encourage them to consume the fish.
Can you use fish fry seasoning mix before frying?
Your fish fry seasoning mix is now ready to use. You can use it to coat fish fillets, shrimp, or other seafood before frying. To use the seasoning, dredge your fish or seafood in the mix, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Shake off any excess seasoning before frying.
What is fish fry seasoning?
This Fish Fry Seasoning is a mix of yellow cornmeal, Old Bay, lemon pepper, salt, pepper, and garlic. It’s our go-to for catfish, crappie, bream, whiting, and whatever we’ve got on our hook. Ready to level up your next fish fry? In our household, frying up some fish on the weekends is practically a tradition, like ordering pizza on a Friday night.