- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total time
- 50 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Quick summary
“The seasoned tilapia strips feature soft white fish strips breaded in a crispy crust seasoned with sweet paprika and black pepper. It is worth making for the speed of preparation of bar snacks at home and for the dry texture obtained with the double breading technique in flour.”
What you need to know
- Corte de 500g de filé de tilápia fresca em tiras regulares padronizadas para cozimento rápido e uniforme no óleo
- Mistura seca de 2 xícaras de farinha de trigo temperada com 1 colher de sopa de páprica doce, sal e pimenta-do-reino
- Empanamento sequencial passando no trigo temperado, ovos batidos e trigo novamente antes da fritura por 4 a 5 minutos
Ingredients
Main
- 500g of tilapia fillet
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 beaten eggs
- Oil for frying
Instructions
Principal
- Start by cutting the tilapia fillet into strips or small pieces.
- In a bowl, mix the wheat flour, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs and set aside.
- Aqueça o óleo em uma frigideira em fogo médio.
- Pass the tilapia pieces in the flour mixture, then in the eggs, and again in the flour, ensuring they are well breaded.
- Fry the tilapia bites for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Remove the strips and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Repeat the process until all pieces are fried.
Chef's tips
- Seque as tiras de tilápia com papel absorvente para que a crosta adira com firmeza sem soltar na fritura
- Aqueça o óleo a 180°C antes de dispor as iscas; óleo frio encharca o peixe e óleo quente demais queima a páprica
- Frite poucas tiras de cada vez para não reduzir a temperatura da panela, escorrendo em papel-toalha
Variations
- Isca de tilápia crocante com panko substituindo a segunda camada de farinha de trigo por farinha panko japonesa
- Isca na air fryer dispondo as tiras empanadas na cesta untada a 200°C por 12 a 15 minutos virando na metade
- Isca com gergelim misturando duas colheres de sopa de gergelim branco tostado na farinha de empanar final
Substitutions
- A tilápia pode ser substituída por filés de pescada-branca, robalo, merluza fresca em tiras ou cação em cubos compridos
- A farinha de trigo pode ser substituída por farinha de arroz para uma casca sem glúten ou farinha de milho fina (fubá)
- A páprica doce pode ser substituída por páprica picante, raspas de limão desidratadas ou alho em pó
How to store
Keep the fried leftovers in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat and recover the crispiness without drying out the white meat, place in the air fryer at 180°C for 4 minutes or in a preheated electric oven at 200°C for 7 minutes.
Can it be frozen?
Freeze the breaded strips while still raw on a baking sheet for 2 hours and transfer to plastic bags for up to 60 days. To fry, dip the frozen strips directly into hot oil at 170°C for 6 minutes, without thawing first.
What to serve with
Serve accompanied by homemade tartar sauce, mayonnaise seasoned with garlic and parsley, and generous wedges of fresh lemon. As a lunch meal, it goes very well with fluffy white rice, carioca beans, and mixed cabbage salad.
Frequently asked questions
What is the secret for the fish bait to be crispy and dry?
Double breading (flour, egg, flour) forms a continuous sealing coating, and frying in oil at 180°C prevents excessive fat absorption.
Can the tilapia be seasoned with lemon juice before breading?
Avoid seasoning with lemon before breading, as the acidic liquid moistens the meat and loosens the flour crust during frying.
What to do if the flour starts to burn at the bottom of the skillet?
Strain the oil through a metal sieve if it releases flour residues and keep the heat under control so the paprika does not burn and turn bitter.
Can I use frozen tilapia fillets?
Yes, thaw the fillets completely in the refrigerator and dry each piece with paper towels before cutting into strips to remove the thaw water.
