Best Air fryer Whole Fish Recipe

By Christopher Cirino, DO, MPH on July 29, 2020 • ( Leave a comment )

Table of Contents

Introduction: Air fryer Whole Fish Recipe

Where there is fresh seafood, there is always fried fish to be found. And now you can get good results with an air fryer. Though other ways of preparing whole fish may be “healthier” – grilled or steamed — something about the texture and flavor of fried fish is irreplaceable. Not to mention that fish is a high-quality, low-fat, protein, and omega-3 fatty acid source.

The British recognized it with their famous battered fish and chips combo; southeast Asian chefs serve whole, fried fish with a chili and lime spin, West African cuisines enjoy fried fish with tomato onion slaw. It’s a showstopper dish that is incredibly versatile, and, with this air fryer “cheat,” it can be a great way to enjoy seafood.

What’s an air fryer?

An air fryer is a fast and convenient option to replace deep frying. They are more like small convection ovens, using a fan to distribute the heat and cook foods evenly and quickly. You are likely to enjoy all the flavorful crispiness of a fried fish without the mess, odor, or excessive oil, which is also not healthy. For a list of the best air fryers of 2020, check out this consumer reports link. A few popular air fryers are at the end of this article.

The Recipe

This recipe gives you a base fried fish to work with and though delicious by itself, can be a great start to any of the other international recipes mentioned above! I also recommend cross-referencing this recipe with Kelvin’s Kitchen’s recipe.

Step 1: Prepare the Fish and Ready the Ingredients.

This is a fresh medium-sized perch that my brother spearfished on the Oregon Coast. Tilapia works excellently as well. You’ll see that the fish has already been descaled and the spiky fins cut off with kitchen shears (near popular fishing areas, there are often fish preparation stations complete with hoses, easily cleaning tables, and seagulls ready to swoop in to eat whatever you’ve left behind!)

With a sharp knife, diagonally score the fish shallowly along the side to ensure even and quick cooking. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.

Prepare the garlic rub. With either a food processor or mortar & pestle, finely mince about 5 cloves of garlic and a generous pinch of salt until it’s paste-like. You may need to add tablespoon by tablespoon vegetable oil (not olive oil, which has a low smoking point) to help it blend smoothly.

Prepare the seasoning flour. Start with 1/4 cup of flour on a platter. Add two tablespoons of Old Bay Seasoning. With a fork or whisk, mix with the flour and seasoning.

Step 2: Dress the fish.

Take your garlic paste and rub it into the whole fish, making sure to get into the scores of the fish and both sides. Afterward, dredge it in the seasoning flour on both sides, shaking off any excess flour.

Step 3: Air-fryer Time

Place the dressed fish in your air-fryer tray. Using cooking oil spray, lightly spray each side of the fish. If you don’t have cooking oil spray, drizzle oil lightly onto each side.

After preheating your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit, put the fish in for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, check for golden color on one side. Flip with tongs or a fish spatula, and put fish in for another 8 minutes.

When ready, check that it has been cooked all the way through with a fork in the flesh. If it is transparent close to the bone, it needs to continue cooking. If the flesh is white and easily separated from the bone, it’s ready.

Serve immediately with a squeeze of lemon, and Enjoy!

(You may notice smaller fried fish in the bottom of the image; when my brother went fishing, he also caught quite a few fish fry as well. They were prepared the same as the large fish and were delicious!)

Out of the Air-fryer and Ready to Eat — Bon Appetit!

I hope you found the recipe delicious. Please have a look around the website to see the unique perspective on health that Your Health Forum offers. Subscribe to have access to a growing database of articles, recipes, the YHF bimonthly newsletter, and a free health book. We value our subscribers and hope that you enjoy the free content and consider yourself welcome. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.