Chinese🐟 Seafood

Pan-Fried Tilapia Fillets

Name: Pan-Fried Tilapia Fillets
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 lb tilapia fillets (or cod, halibut, or other white fish fillets); snow peas; 1 tsp white pepper powder; 1 tbsp garlic salt; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 2 tbsp oil; cooking wine

⏱ 15 min

Transform Costco frozen tilapia fillets into a restaurant-quality dish using simple techniques and fresh ingredients. The fillets are seasoned, coated with cornstarch, and pan-fried until golden and crispy on the outside while remaining tender and moist inside. Served alongside blanched snow peas, this quick and affordable weeknight dinner showcases Cantonese-style cooking at its finest.

High-proteinLow-cal

Adapted from a video by Made With Lau

🐟 How a Chinese Chef cooks Costco Tilapia! (煎鯽魚)

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

tilapia fillets (or cod, halibut, or other white fish fillets)1 lb
snow peas
white pepper powder1 tsp
garlic salt1 tbsp
cornstarch1 tbsp
oilfor pan-frying; additional oil is needed for blanching the snow peas2 tbsp
cooking winesplash for aroma

Steps

▶ Tap a timecode to jump to roughly that moment in the video.

1
Prepare the snow peas by removing the string along the edge of each pod. Follow the string's natural growth path when pulling—pulling against it won't work. Set the prepared snow peas aside.
2
Prepare the tilapia fillets by patting them completely dry with paper towels. This ensures the seasoning adheres properly and the fish browns evenly when pan-frying. You should have approximately 1 lb of fillets.
3
Season the fillets on both sides with approximately 1 tsp white pepper, patting it in gently—this masks any fishy flavors. Then sprinkle 1 tbsp of garlic salt over both sides. Finally, coat both sides with a thin, even layer of cornstarch by pressing it gently into the fish. This creates an aromatic crust and seals in moisture and seasoning.
4
Blanch the snow peas by adding a bit of oil to boiling water—the oil helps them glisten beautifully. Submerge the snow peas and cook for 30 to 40 seconds while stirring. Remove them quickly and set aside to use as a bed for the fish or plate decoration.
5
Preheat a stainless steel pan on high heat until pale smoke just begins to rise. Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp of oil. Sufficient oil is crucial for proper pan-frying.
6
Add the fillets to the hot oil and leave them undisturbed so the bottom forms a fragrant crust, about 2 to 3 minutes. Once the edges begin to change color, gently press down with a spatula to increase the surface area touching the pan—this creates more flavor.
7
Flip the fillets gently using chopsticks or silicone-tipped tongs. Tilt the pan so oil reaches the newly exposed side. Pan-fry for about 2.5 minutes until the bottom browns. Gently nudge the fillets with a spatula to ensure they release from the pan.
8
Check the color on the underside of the fillets, then splash some cooking wine around the pan's edge to enhance aroma. Cover the pan and let it sit for 30 to 40 seconds.
9
Uncover and turn the heat back on. Pan-fry for 15 to 20 seconds on this side to evaporate remaining liquid and achieve a crispy exterior. Flip and cook the other side for another 15 to 20 seconds until both sides are perfectly golden.
10
Turn off the heat. Arrange some blanched snow peas on the plate as a bed, place the fish fillets on top, arrange the remaining snow peas around the plate, and serve immediately.

Pan-Fried Tilapia Fillets

Ingredients

Steps

More like this