This Crispy Fried Tilapia (whole fish) with sauteed tomatoes is made of simple ingredients yet delicious and flavorful. It’s a quick and easy meal ready in 30 minutes!
This tilapia recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner. You can use any whole fish you like or you may use a fish fillet.
Tilapia is good for deep frying. It has tender somewhat firmer flesh with a mild and sweet taste.
Although, this recipe is similar to sweet and sour fish, without the addition of vinegar and less sugar. This whole fried tilapia also tastes great with the sweet and sour sauce.
These sauteed tomatoes are made of garlic, onion, ginger, and tomatoes. You can use any kind of tomatoes you like. Cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, Heirloom tomatoes, and plum tomatoes are great options.
How to make Crispy Fried Tilapia (Whole Fish) with sauteed tomatoes
Clean the fish. Remove the fish gills, guts, and scales. It depends on your location, you can buy whole fish that are already clean. I bought frozen cleaned tilapia that I thawed overnight in the fridge. If you’re short of time, you can also thaw it by soaking it in cold water.
Season the whole fish with salt and pepper. In a wok or deep frying pan, heat canola oil on medium-high heat. Make sure the oil is hot enough before you put the fish in preheated oil at 350°F to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
Fry the fish for 10 to 14 minutes. Flip halfway through, for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy. Meanwhile, while frying the tilapia you can make the sauteed tomatoes.
Saute onion, garlic, and ginger with canola oil until lightly browned. Add the tomatoes and season with salt, sugar, and ground black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes release their juice ( you may need to add a couple of tablespoons of water). Add finely chopped parsley.
Transfer the fish to a serving plate then pour the sauteed tomatoes on the fish or serve it on the side. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with rice.
More easy Fish Recipes to try
Crispy Fried Tilapia with Sauteed Tomatoes
Watch How to Make It
Equipment
- wok or frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 Large Tilapia cleaned and seasoned with
- ¼ tsp salt and a pinch of ground black pepper
For frying
- 2 cups canola oil
Sauteed tomatoes ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. canola oil for sauteeing
- 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 small red onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp ginger sliced
- 2 tsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- ¼ tsp seasoning granules optional
- ½ tsp salt or fish to taste
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- ground black pepper to taste
For garnish:
- 1 tbsp Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Clean the fish and season with salt and pepper. In a wok or deep frying pan, heat canola oil on medium-high heat. Fry the fish until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes on each side.
- While frying the fish, saute onion, garlic, and ginger with canola oil until lightly browned. Add the tomatoes and season with salt, sugar, and ground black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes release their juice ( you may need to add a couple of tablespoons of water). Add finely chopped parsley.
- Transfer the fish to a serving plate. Pour the sauteed tomatoes on the fish or serve it on the side. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with rice.
