A Delicious and Easy Recipe
If you appreciate seafood, consider trying a sweet and sour fish fillet dish. It offers a zesty and flavorful experience. The recipe works especially well for boneless fish varieties. While the original calls for labahita or lapu-lapu, you can substitute other fillets like cream dory or tilapia for their tender, white flesh. Just follow a few easy steps to create a mouth-watering meal that will leave everyone wanting more.
Preparing the Fish Fillet
Commence the process by properly cleaning the fish, removing its skin with care. Separate the fleshy portions from the bones, then cut the fillet into bite-sized pieces, approximately one inch in width. This ensures even cooking and convenient handling of the fish pieces.
Proceed to marinate the fish fillets, infusing them with flavor. Generously rub them with calamansi juice, salt, pepper, and MSG. This simple yet flavorful marinade imparts a tangy and savory taste, complementing the sweet and sour sauce perfectly.
Coating and Frying the Fish Fillet
Crafting a crunchy exterior for fish fillets demands meticulous preparation. First, coat the fillets with cornstarch, a technique that seals in moisture while fostering a crisp crust during frying. Next, immerse the cornstarch-coated fillets in beaten eggs, then roll them in breadcrumbs. This three-step process ensures an even coating, promising a delightful crunch upon cooking.
Heat oil in a pan or deep fryer at medium temperature. Gently lower the coated fillets into the hot oil, allowing them to fry until they acquire a golden-brown hue. Vigilantly monitor and adjust the heat to prevent scorching. Once fried to perfection, transfer the fish fillets to a paper towel-lined surface, absorbing any residual oil.
Creating the Sweet and Sour Sauce
Start with the star attraction – the sweet and sour sauce. In a saucepan, blend cornstarch and sugar with ¼ cup water. Mix until ingredients combine completely. Next, add finely chopped onion, garlic, cucumber (optional), tomato (optional), bell pepper, pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and margarine. These create a balanced, flavorful sauce for the fried fish fillets.
Put the saucepan on medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture boils. Cook for around 2 more minutes as it thickens to the desired consistency. The cornstarch and sugar blend acts as a thickener, giving the sauce a smooth texture. Once ready, pour the sauce over the fried fish fillet.
Serving and Enjoying Sweet and Sour Fish
Sweet and sour fish is a flavorsome delight. Enjoy the crispy golden fillets with tantalizing sauce. Tangy, slightly sweet, it tantalizes taste buds best when served piping hot. Consider garnishing with fresh herbs or sesame seeds for visual appeal.
This dish goes well with steamed rice or noodles. It can be the main course or part of a larger meal with side dishes. However you choose to relish this dish, it will surely impress all.
Wrap Up
A captivating recipe, the dish fuses delicate fish with a zesty, flavorful sauce. Simple ingredients create a mouthwatering dish. Seafood lovers or culinary explorers, this recipe satisfies cravings. Gather ingredients and embark on a tasty journey. Taste buds rejoice! Craving seafood? Try sweet and sour shrimps!
Notes on The Ingredients:
Fish Fillets: The recipe calls for boneless white fish fillets. Suitable options include labahita (surgeon fish), lapu-lapu (grouper), cream dory, or tilapia. These varieties boast a delicate, flavorful flesh ideal for this dish.
Cornstarch: Before frying, coat the fillets with cornstarch. This creates a crispy exterior while sealing in moisture. Thus, the fish remains tender on the inside yet achieves a golden brown crust.
Pineapple Juice: Tangy sweetness from pineapple juice lends a delicious contrast to the sauce, balancing tartness and complementing savory flavors. A hint of sourness creates an enjoyable and balanced taste.
Vinegar: Vinegar contributes a bright, acidic note, providing necessary tanginess. It cuts through the richness of fish fillets, unifying flavors harmoniously. The dish’s complexity is enhanced by vinegar’s presence.
Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet
Ingredients
For the fish:
- 2 medium size labahita lapu-lapu or maya-maya
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups Japanese bread crumbs
- 3/4 cup cornstarch for coating
- 4 calamansi juice extracted
- 3 eggs beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
- MSG or granulated seasoning
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 1 piece onion quartered
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp. margarine
- 1/4 cup cucumber cubed
- 1 piece tomato slices
- 1 piece bell pepper sliced
Instructions
How To Cook Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet
- Clean the fish and remove the skin. Separate the flesh from the fish bones and cut the fillet into 1 inch crosswise.
- Rub the fillet with calamansi juice, salt, pepper and MSG.
- Before frying, coat with cornstarch then dip in beaten eggs and roll in bread crumbs.
- Deep fry in a medium heat until golden brown. Set aside.
- To make the sauce, in a saucepan mix thoroughly the cornstarch and sugar in 1/4 cup water.
- Add in onion, garlic, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and margarine.
- Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture starts to boil.
- Cook for about 2 minutes more until the sauce thickens then pour over fried fish fillets.
- Serve hot.
Video
Watch the Video on How to Cook Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet:
Notes
Cooking Tips for Sweet and Sour Fish:
- For a healthier alternative, bake the fish fillets instead of frying. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook in a preheated 356°F (180°C) oven until golden and fully cooked, around 15 minutes.
- To enhance the sweet and sour sauce's flavor, consider adding chili flakes or a splash of Worcestershire sauce for a subtle kick.
- If a thicker consistency is desired, gradually increase the cornstarch amount. Mix additional cornstarch with water, then cook until the sauce reaches the preferred thickness.
- Infusing vibrant hues and wholesome goodness, consider enriching the sauce with an array of diced vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas. Simply sauté these slender slices before incorporating them into the flavorful blend.
- If time constraints arise, you can proactively prepare the sweet and sour sauce. Store it securely in an airtight container within the refrigerator's cool embrace. When ready to savor the dish, gently reheat the sauce on the stovetop, pouring its tantalizing warmth over freshly fried or baked fish fillets.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan when frying the delicate fish fillets. Opt for a batch-by-batch approach to ensure even cooking and a delightfully crisp texture that tantalizes the taste buds.
- Once the tangy sauce drenches the crispy fish fillets, serve them promptly to fully enjoy their texture contrast. This delectable entree pairs seamlessly with steamed rice or noodles, crafting a satisfying main course.
- Explore diverse fish fillet varieties to uncover your personal favorite rendition. White-fleshed selections like cod, haddock, or snapper can beautifully substitute the recommended options.
- Should you desire an accentuated sweetness, feel free to customise the sugar quantity per your palate's preference. Commence with the outlined measurement, then gradually augment if desired.
- Garnish the vibrant plate with fresh cilantro or parsley sprigs, imparting a pop of verdant hue and zesty fragrance. A final squeeze of lemon or lime juice just prior to savoring can further elevate the harmonious flavour profile.
Xan
Hello! Can I put tomato sauce/ketchup in this?
Manny
Hi Xan, yes you can.
Iya
Can’t wait to try this. Looks good. 🙂
BUT the video is annoyingly slow. The slow-motion of the hand picking up ingredients and cutting fish…I just can’t.
Manny
Hi Iya, sorry for that slow motion and hand picking of ingredients. This is an old video and the newer videos are already faster and I eliminated the one by one picking of ingredients.
xia
can i use another fish instead? like cream dory?
Manny
Hi Xia,
Yes you can use cream dory.
Eunice Rosales
Thanks you for the Delicious recipe!! Now i will have my project!!thanks!!
Manny
Hi Eaunice, you are very welcome!
corazon Roxas Wi
thank you for the simple and delicious Sweet and sour fish fillet recipe!
Manny
Hi Corazon, you are very welcome!
jong
You are a lot of help :)…May God bless you with many delicious blessings…
Manny
Hi Jong, Thanks for the kind words!
Manny
Thanks Katherine for your rating and comment. Yes the fish fillet is good and you must try it also.
katherine
It was our fiesta yesterday and they loved my sweet and sour pork courtesy of panlasang pinoy… now i must try this sweet and sour fish fillet… thank you so much
Jommel albarracin
Tnx a lot for the generosity of helping others to learn free by your knowledge and kndness…u can inspire others to put a business…
Abigail roxas
Nice recipe! I have bought a labahita this morning and this a perfect dish to cook!
Manny
Hi Abigail, yes you can use labahita and other white flesh fish on making sweet and sour fish fillet.
Manny
Thanks also for taking time to post your comment!
louella costan
Thanks for this very impressive recipes here, it’s a big help for someone like me who love in the kitchen for cooking for some different foods yet , special
Manny
Thanks also for taking time to post your comment!