It doesn’t get a whole lot quicker than this Pan Fried Hake dinner. This flaky white fish cooks up quickly and goes with so many different sides to make it the perfect seafood lovers dinner. Dredged in flour and fried in a mix of butter and oil for extra crispiness.
And I thought what better recipe today than this Pan Fried Hake. If you’ve never tried Hake or even heard of it, keep on reading. Hake recipes like this one and my Hake Fish Cakes wiith Alioli are great dinner options. This is a great way to get a quick, delicious and (dare I say), nutritious dinner on the table any night of the week. And if you love dishes like my Lemon Baked Cod or my delicious Cod au Gratin, you need to check this one out.
Why You’ll Love This Fish Dish
- Healthy and low calorie – white fish is deemed pretty healthy and this dish is only 167 calories per serving.
- Quick and easy – this dish comes together really quickly and cooks in less than 10 minutes. Great for quick dinners.
- Affordable – this fish is commonly available is most freezer sections of our supermarket and is generally not too pricey.
What is Hake Fish
Hake fish are members of the cod family. There are more than 10 varieties, including blue hake. Generally they have a milder taste, are softer and have a smaller flake than cod. It’s easy to cook with, generally inexpensive and can be found in most freezer sections of your grocery store. Yes, frozen fish is perfectly fine!
Ingredients
- Hake fillets – I used frozen hake fillets that I let defrost in the fridge. (or other white fish fillets)
- Coating – I used just regular flour for this recipe and it gives the fish a great crispy exterior when cooked
- Seasonings – Just simple salt and pepper.
- Vegetable oil & butter – I like to use both oil and butter for frying fish for flavour as well as helping give the fish a crispy texture
- Lemon wedges – This fish goes great with fresh lemon wedges.
- Garnish – fresh chopped parsley adds a nice finishing touch for the fish. This step is completely optional.
Instructions
- Make flour mixture – on a large plate, combine the flour with the salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Pat fish dry & coat – make sure to pat both sides of the fish dry with paper towels, don’t skip! Then dredge it in the flour mixture. Frimly press the fish into the flour mixture to make sure it sticks. Then gently tap off any excess flour.
THE BEST TIPS FOR GETTING PAN FRIED FISH CRISPY
- Use a heavy bottomed skillet – for best results and even cooking, use a heavy bottomed skillet. The fish won’t stick at all, unlike many of the thinner pans.
- Heat the skillet before adding oil or butter – Heat the skillet over a medium to high heat until it just starts to lightly smoke.
- Add butter and oil – when the pan is hot, add the butter and oil until it sizzles.
- Don’t move the fish around – place the fish fillets into the hot pan. Leave them to cook, don’t touch them. Shake the pan after about a minute to loosen the fish, if it is sticking. Then leave it to cook for a further 3 minutes. Flip all the fish over and leave to cook for a further 4 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from pan
Serve and Enjoy the Crispy Fried Fish
This is delicious & BEST served straight off the stove. As easy as this fish dish is to make and cook, it’s not a make in advance dish. So be ready to sit and enjoy as soon as you take this off the stove. It’s honestly so delicious.
What Are Some Great Side Dishes To Serve with This Hake Recipe
- Potatoes – You really can’t go wrong with the Fluffy Mashed Potatoes or the Crispy Oven Fries.
- Salads – For something a little different why not try the Potato & Cucumber Salad or the Grilled Vegetable and Chickpea Salad
- Vegetables -The Oven Roasted Italian Green Peppers, and the Sheet Pan Vegetables would both work great.
Are There any Other Types of Fish I can Use For This Crispy Fish Recipe
Yes, you can easily substitute a few other types of fish in this recipe no problem at all. Cod, Flounder, Haddock and Halibut would all work well.
Can I Use Frozen Fish Fillets
Again, yes. Frozen fish fillets are perfectly fine and what I used in this recipe. Fresh fish isn’t always easy to attain and can be very pricey. So, I say use frozen fish. Just make sure you defrost it fully before cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although coating fish in flour creates a crispy exterior, you can easily fry the fish without coating it in flour. It will still be crisp but without the coating.
I like to use both because it creates more of a heat resistant frying. Add the oil first and then add the butter.
It’s best to use a heavy bottomed skillet and make sure to heat it properly. Heat the pan over a medium to high heat. Add the oil and then butter.
Pan Fried Hake
Ingredients
- 4 Hake fillets skin removed
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 Cup flour
- 1 teaspoon Sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Fresh ground black pepper
- Lemon wedges for serving
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the flour, salt and pepper on a large plate. Stir to combine and set aside
- Pat both sides of the fish fillets dry with paper towels. After the fish is dry, dredge it in the flour mixture and firmly press it against the fish. Lightly tap the fish to remove any excess flour.
- Heat a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium to high heat until just about smoking. Add the butter and oil and let it sizzle, about 10 seconds.
- Add the coated fish fillets to the pan. They should sizzle straight away. After about a minute, give the pan a shake and let them cook for a further 3 minutes. Flip all the fish fillets and leave them to cook for a further 4 minutes.
- Remove from pan and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
*A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Notes
- Use a heavy bottomed skillet.
- Bring the pan up to temperature before adding the oil and butter.
- Do not move the fish around the pan when cooking. Leave each side to cook without touching it. Then flip to cook the other side.
Thanks For Stopping By & Hope To See You Soon!
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