Perfect 😎 let’s make a simple, flavorful fish fillet—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. I’ll give you a few versatile options: pan-seared, baked, or crispy fried.
🐟 Pan-Seared Fish Fillet (10–12 min)
Ingredients
- 2–4 fish fillets (cod, tilapia, haddock, snapper, or sole)
- Salt & black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika or Cajun seasoning (optional)
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- Lemon wedges
- Optional: garlic, fresh herbs (parsley, dill)
Instructions
- Pat fish dry—essential for a good sear.
- Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika/Cajun if using.
- Heat oil/butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook fish 3–4 minutes per side until golden and just cooked through. Don’t move it until it naturally releases.
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon and herbs.
🔥 Variations
Baked Fish Fillet
- Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C.
- Place fillets in a greased baking dish, drizzle olive oil, season, and bake 12–15 min until opaque.
Crispy Fried Fish
- Dredge fillets in flour or cornmeal, season, and shallow fry in oil 3–4 min per side until golden and crispy.
Flavor Boosts
- Garlic butter: add butter + garlic in last minute of pan-searing.
- Spicy: sprinkle cayenne or drizzle hot sauce.
- Mediterranean: top with chopped tomatoes, olives, capers, and parsley.
If you want, I can give a full “restaurant-style” version with pan sauce that makes the fish taste insanely fancy but is still 20 min total. Do you want me to do that?
