Perfect fried fish at home: Secrets from seaside booths

The taste of fried fish from a seaside booth lingers long after you return home from vacation. The freshness of the product plays a role, but so does a whole host of tricks, spices, and cooking methods to achieve that specific effect. Learn how to prepare the perfect fried fish at home.

Recreating the taste of fried fish from a seaside booth is easy. If you usually bread the fish and fry it, but the taste still falls short of your expectations, you most likely forgot one thing: the marinade. Marinades give food a more tender texture and deeper flavor.

The marinade for fried fish should not be too intense in flavor, as fish typically has mild notes. You can use a simple mixture of olive oil, spices, garlic, and white wine for fried cod. The latter ingredient ensures the meat is tender and juicy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cod fillets
• 4 tablespoons clarified butter
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 egg

Marinade for the fish:       

• 3 cloves garlic
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 tablespoons dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• salt and pepper

Preparation:

1. Wash and dry the fish.
2. Combine the ingredients for the marinade. Cover the fish with the prepared marinade and refrigerate for 6 hours.
3. Remove the fish from the refrigerator and let it sit to reach room temperature. Dip it in the beaten egg, then in the breadcrumbs.
4. Fry the fish on both sides until the breading becomes golden.
5. Serve with fries and coleslaw.