Air fryer recipe · Mains
South Masala Fish Fry
Fish fillets in a simple south-style chilli and lemon masala with a light rice flour crust.
- 22 minTotal time
- 185°CAir fryer
- 2Serves
- Non-vegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 280kcal
- 49.0 gprotein
- 13.7 gcarbs
- 2.4 gfat
- 1.3 gfibre
Per serving, about 2 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- fish500 g
- red chilli powder2 tsp
- turmeric0.5 tsp
- ginger garlic paste1 tbsp
- lemon1
- rice flour2 tbsp
- curry leaves1 sprig
Method
Make the marinade
Mix the red chilli powder, turmeric, ginger garlic paste, lemon juice and salt into a thick paste. The lemon and salt season the fish, while a paste, not a runny mix, clings to each fillet so the spice does not slide off.
Marinate the fish
Coat the fish fillets with the paste on both sides and rest them for 15 minutes. This short rest lets the spices and lemon settle into the flesh, giving deeper flavour and helping firm up the surface before cooking.
Dust and preheat
Preheat the air fryer to 185°C. Sprinkle the rice flour lightly over the fish and scatter the curry leaves on top. The thin rice-flour dusting soaks up surface moisture and crisps into a light, crackly crust.
Air fry
Air fry at 185°C for 12 min, turning once, until the fish turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Turning halfway browns both sides evenly, and clean flaking at the thickest part tells you it is cooked through.
