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    Home » Recipes » Fish and seafood recipes

    Pan-fried fish fillets - with a light batter

    Published: Jan 19, 2022 · Modified: Sep 10, 2024 by VJ · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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    Succulent pan-fried fish fillets take a lot of beating when you are looking for a quick and easy family supper. These pan-fried fish fillets are coated in my special light batter, which is so much healthier than the usual beer batter normally used to coat fried fish. Once you've tried my easy way of frying fish, I'm sure you're going to love it. PS - it's gluten-free too!

    A golden pan-fried fish fillet on a plate with chips and peas.

    The batter is light and golden and packed with flavour, thanks to the addition of a spoonful of my favourite fish spice.

    You might also like to try this tempura-battered cod with sumac which uses a similar batter, but with Middle Eastern spices.

    Jump to:
    • The best fish batter
    • Tips for frying fish
    • Ingredients
    • How to make pan-fried fish fillets
    • Serving suggestions
    • Freezing and storage
    • Save for later
    • Related recipes
    • 📋The recipe

    The best fish batter

    I have to admit it, I do love a plate of good old British fish and chips from the local chippie, but only very occasionally. I don't think that all the oil that gets absorbed into the batter can be very good for you.

    So I've devised this recipe for pan-fried fish fillets in a light and crispy batter that I can enjoy any time I feel like it but without the guilt trip.

    The batter is made with eggs and cornflour - so it's extra light and crispy, and as a bonus, it happens to be gluten-free.

    What's more, if you follow my tips below, I'll show you how to get the batter to stick to the fish, and not to the pan.

    Tips for frying fish

    1. The pan that you use is important. Use a frying pan with a heavy base that distributes the heat evenly without creating any hot spots. This will allow the fish to brown evenly.
    2. The fish should be completely dry before you coat it in batter. I like to place my fish fillets between a double layer of paper towel and then press them gently to absorb any excess moisture.
    3. The oil should be hot before you add the fish. If you add the fish to cold oil then the oil will just get absorbed into the batter, resulting in greasy fish. Heat the oil in the pan until the oil is just shimmering, then test it by dropping a teaspoonful of batter into the oil. It should start to turn brown in 40 seconds. (You can do the same test with a small cube of bread).
    4. You should hear a gentle sizzle when you add the fish. If it doesn't sizzle then the pan is not hot enough and you should let it heat a few seconds longer.
    5. The fish should be at room temperature. If you fry fish directly from the refrigerator it will cool the oil down.
    6. Don't try to turn the fish before it has browned on one side. Give the fish a gentle nudge - if it moves on the pan it is ready to turn. If it sticks, give it a few seconds longer.
    7. Use a flat spatula to turn the fish. You need to support the fish as you turn it. Trying to turn the fish with a fork or a pair of tongs is an invitation for the fish to break up.
    8. Use fillets of fish which are the same thickness all the way through. This ensures the fish will cook evenly. Cod especially is much thicker around the loin area than the tail. Rather cut the fillets in half before frying as the thicker loin pieces will need a slightly longer cooking time than the thinner tail pieces. As a rule of thumb, you will need to fry the fish for between 3 and 4 minutes per side.
    9. Don't overcrowd the pan - leave enough room around the fish fillets so that you can turn them easily. I normally fry fish in two batches and keep the first batch warm in the oven (100C / 212F) in a dish lined with kitchen paper towels. (Keep the kitchen towel away from the heating element or bring the oven up to temperature and then switch it off before putting the dish in the oven).

    Ingredients

    **The complete list of ingredients and concise instructions for making this pan-fried fish can be found on the printable recipe card at the end of this post**

    To start with you will need some skinless fish fillets. I used basa fillets because that's what I had in the freezer, but you could substitute this with any firm white fish such as cod or haddock.

    A typical serving of fish is between 3 to 4 ounces per person (or 85 to 110 grams) so you can take this into account when deciding how much fish you need to cook.

    For the batter

    The batter is sufficient to coat enough fish for 4 people - you can double up on the batter ingredients if you are cooking for more.

    You will only need three ingredients for the batter.

    Ingredients for making the batter.

    I like to add half a teaspoon of salt to the batter, but this is optional.

    1 large egg - I weighed my egg and it weighed 2.5 ounces (70 grams). The reason I'm telling you this, is firstly you need a large enough egg to make sufficient batter, and secondly, the amount of cornflour you will need depends on the size of the egg.

    6 tablespoon cornflour (or cornstarch) - 60 grams - you will need roughly the same weight of cornflour as the weight of the egg. The consistency of the batter should be a thick pouring consistency - a bit like double cream.

    1 teaspoon Schwartz fish spice - this is a mixture of citrus flavours, dill, black pepper, and salt and goes really well with fish. You can use your own favourite fish spice.

    ½ teaspoon salt - this is optional.

    You will also need sunflower oil for frying - you will need enough oil to just cover the base of the frying pan (approximately one-eighth of an inch deep).

    How to make pan-fried fish fillets

    Place the fish between 2 layers of kitchen towel and press lightly to remove any moisture.

    Mix the batter by combining all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whisk with a balloon whisk until there are no lumps and the batter is the consistency of thick cream. If the batter seems a little thin, add extra cornflour a teaspoon at a time, whisking well after each addition.

    Batter being whisked in a mixing bowl.

    Cornflour has a tendency to coagulate at the bottom of the bowl - so if you let the batter stand before using it, be sure to whisk it again before coating the fish.

    Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan until it starts to shimmer. Test that it is hot enough by dropping a few drops of batter into the oil. They should start to turn brown within 40 seconds.

    Dip the fish fillets in the batter and let any excess batter run off back into the bowl.

    Carefully lay the fish in the frying pan. If the oil is hot enough, you should hear a gentle sizzle.

    Three fillets of fish being fried in a frying pan.

    Fry the fish until the underside is golden brown.

    Thinner fillets will take about three minutes per side. Thicker pieces (eg Cod loin) will take slightly longer.

    Carefully turn the fish with a spatula and fry the other side for the same length of time.

    Three fillets of fish in a frying pan showing the golden brown batter.

    Remove the fish from the frying pan and place it on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

    Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

    Three pan-fried fish fillets draining on paper towel.

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    Serving suggestions

    It goes without saying that in the UK, fish is normally served with chips and either garden peas or mushy peas.

    However, that said, there are lots of ways to serve a perfectly fried piece of fish. Here are some of my suggestions:

    • Place the fish on top of a bed of spicy mushroom fried rice and serve with a fresh green salad.
    • Serve with potatoes romanoff, alongside a helping of peas.
    • Instead of chips, why not try serving this pan-fried fish with either German fried potatoes or crispy smashed potatoes with rosemary
    • Make it a lighter meal by serving the fish with creamy coleslaw salad.
    • And of course, you could make a delicious fish burger by sandwiching the fish in a Portuguese roll and topping with sliced gherkins and a spoonful of homemade mayonnaise.

    Freezing and storage

    This dish is best eaten freshly cooked and is not suitable for freezing.

    You can mix the batter one or two hours ahead of time and let it stand in the refrigerator. Whisk the batter well before using it.

    Once coated in batter, the fish should be fried immediately.

    You can store any leftover fish in a covered container in the refrigerator overnight. It makes delicious sandwiches (perhaps with a smear of mayonnaise) for lunch the next day.

    Save for later

    If you'd like to try these pan-fried fish fillets yourself, why not pin the recipe to one of your Pinterest boards so you can find it again easily? Just click on the image below.

    Related recipes

    You can find other similar recipes on my fish and seafood recipes page. Here are a few you might enjoy:

    • Oven-baked Mediterranean cod on a plate, covered with marinara sauce, with peas and boiled potatoes.
      Mediterranean oven-baked cod with marinara sauce
    • A piece of fish milanese being flaked with a fork.
      Fish Milanese with a buttery garlic and parsley sauce
    • A plate of spicy fish and rice with peas.
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    📋The recipe

    A golden pan-fried fish fillet on a plate with chips and peas.

    Pan-fried fish fillets with a light batter

    Succulent pan-fried fish fillets take a lot of beating when you are looking for a quick and easy family supper. These pan-fried fish fillets are coated in my special light batter, which is so much healthier than the usual beer batter normally used to coat fried fish. Once you've tried my easy way of frying fish, I'm sure you're going to love it. PS - it's gluten-free too!
    Recipe by: Veronica
    Main Course
    British
    Calories 245
    Prep 10 minutes minutes
    Cook 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 22 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Print Pin Comment Bookmark Saved!
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    5 from 9 votes

    (Click the stars to rate this recipe)

    Equipment

    • 1 Mixing bowl
    • 1 Balloon whisk
    • 1 Large frying pan

    Ingredients

    • 4 fish fillets approximately 4oz or 110 grams each
    • 1 large egg
    • 6 tablespoons / 60 grams cornflour you may need extra depending on the size of the egg
    • 1 teaspoon fish spice add extra to your own taste
    • ½ teaspoon salt optional
    • sunflower oil for frying

    Instructions

    • Place the fish between 2 layers of kitchen towel and press lightly to remove any moisture.
      4 fish fillets
    • Place the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk with a balloon whisk to remove any lumps. The consistency should be that of thick cream. Add extra cornflour a teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
      1 large egg, 6 tablespoons / 60 grams cornflour, 1 teaspoon fish spice, ½ teaspoon salt
    • Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan until it starts to shimmer. You will nee sufficient oil to coat the bottom of the pan to a depth of about ⅛". Test that it is hot enough by dropping a few drops of batter into the oil. They should start to turn brown within 40 seconds.
      sunflower oil
    • Dip the fish fillets in the batter and let any excess batter run off back into the bowl.
    • Carefully lay the fish into the frying pan. If the oil is hot enough, you should hear a gentle sizzle.
    • Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Thicker pieces of fish will take longer than thinner pieces.
    • Once the first side has browned, turn the fish carefully with a spatula and fry the other side for the same length of time.
    • Remove the fish from the frying pan and place it on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
    • Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Serve with chips and peas.  See the body of the post for other serving suggestions.
    Nutrition - not all the sunflower oil will be absorbed by the batter as the fish cooks, so I have based the nutrition calculation on 3 tablespoons of oil.  The calculation is for the fish only and does not take any side dishes into consideration.

    Nutrition

    Calories - 245kcal | Carbohydrates - 11.6g | Protein - 20.5g | Fat - 13.2g | Saturated Fat - 1.5g | Cholesterol - 96mg | Sodium - 371mg | Potassium - 64mg | Fiber - 1.1g | Sugar - 0.2g | Calcium - 8mg | Iron - 1mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutrition information has been calculated using an on-line calculator, and is intended for information and guidance purposes only. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should consider calculating it yourself, using your preferred tool.

    Unless otherwise stated, a cup is the standard US cup containing 240 ml. In all my recipes this cup is assumed to hold 140g of flour. For help converting other ingredients between cups, grams, ounces and other measures, see my recipe conversion calculator.
    All my recipes are developed and tested at sea-level. For tips on adjusting recipes for high altitudes see my post on baking at high altitudes.
    Tried this recipe?If you made this recipe I'd love it if you could leave me a comment and let me know how it went!
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    About VJ

    Before I started my food blog I was an IT Consultant. Now that I've swapped an office for a kitchen I have a lot more time to spend on things that interest me such as trying out new recipes. Most of my cooking is based around quick and easy meals, mostly made from scratch, using everyday pantry ingredients.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 9 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    1. Debs

      April 11, 2025 at 6:18 pm

      The batter was quite think and gloomy for me. Not sure where it went wrong?

      Reply
      • VJ

        April 11, 2025 at 7:37 pm

        Sorry to hear that - I've been making this for years and the batter always turns out perfectly. Did you use corn starch (we know it in the UK as cornflour) or the thicker corn flour as used in the US which we would probably refer to as polenta>

        Reply
    2. M'Lisa Mitchell

      January 21, 2025 at 12:01 am

      5 stars
      Thank you fit this wonderful recipe! Been looking for an easy battered fish recipe that doesn't need to be deep fried. This method is excellent.
      Didn't have the fish seasoning listed. So I substituted it with Old Bay seasoning. Next time I won't add the salt though. Old bay already has it and some of my thinner pieces were a touch too salty for me. Only because I have pretty much halved my salt intake. This is definitely a keeper recipe.

      Reply
      • VJ

        January 21, 2025 at 11:44 am

        Glad you enjoyed it M'Lisa - thanks for taking the time to comment!

        Reply
    3. Yasmin

      August 26, 2024 at 7:09 pm

      Can I fry the fish and freeze it till needed and the put it in oven?

      Reply
      • VJ

        August 26, 2024 at 7:28 pm

        5 stars
        Hi Yasmin - to be perfectly honest I've never tried to do that. If I was going to freeze the cooked fish I would drain it on kitchen paper and allow it to come to room temperature. Then I would layer it in between pieces of baking parchment in a freezer container before freezing. Cooked fish can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. I'd also let it defrost in the refrigerator before putting it in the oven to warm up so that it doesn't have to be in the oven too long (or it might dry out). I'd love to know how it turns out if you try it!

        Reply
    4. Angie

      June 10, 2024 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      Yes; I just made them, this batter is light, crisp and way less messier than the traditional batter. The seasoning was perfection. The batter would be excellent for onion rings.

      Reply
      • VJ

        June 11, 2024 at 10:25 am

        5 stars
        Glad the fish turned out nicely for you. I like your idea of using the batter for onion rings - I'll have to give that a try. Thank you for commenting!

        Reply
    5. Zee

      March 09, 2024 at 12:34 am

      5 stars
      Made it tonight. Deelish!

      Reply
      • VJ

        March 09, 2024 at 11:42 am

        5 stars
        It's one of my favourite ways to cook fish. Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    6. Zelda

      September 13, 2023 at 6:55 pm

      What is "fish spice?"

      Reply
      • VJ

        September 13, 2023 at 7:48 pm

        Fish spice is a condiment that you can buy in supermarkets in the UK and in South Africa in the spice aisle and is normally a blend of lemon, dill and parsley.

        Reply

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