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    Home » Seafood

    Pomfret Fry

    Published: Jan 9, 2019 · Modified: Nov 7, 2022 by Rachna ·

    Jump to Recipe
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    This pomfret fish fry recipe is spicy and super delicious. Marinated in basic spices, the fish is cooked to perfection either on tawa or in air fryer.

    We relish seafood in my home. From shrimp or prawns to fish, we are seafoodies. 🙂

    Pomfret is a popular sea fish in India that has very tasty flesh. It is often made as fish fry or tawa fry.

    This recipe is easy to make and the fish only needs 15-30 minutes of marination.

    You may also like: Mangalore Prawn Curry Recipe, Goan Prawn Curry, Bengali Fish Curry, Pink Perch Fry.

    Top shot of Pomfret fry in a red masala served on a white plate with lime and onion slices.

    Ingredients Used

    1. Pomfret: White Pomfret works the best here. If you can't source it then any meaty white fish like king fish, catfish or halibut will work. The taste will not be the same.

    2. Spices: Kashmiri Red chilli powder gives it its signature red colour. Also used in ginger garlic paste for its spicy notes.

    Chickpea flour makes the marinade thick and gives the fish a nice coating. Rice flour can be used as a substitute.

    3. Lemon juice helps in reducing the fishy odor as well as in making the fish tender.

    4. Oil: A little oil is used to help prevent the fish from drying out. Use olive oil or mustard oil.

    Pomfret fry in a red masala served on a white plate with lime and onion slices.

    Stepwise Pictures

    1. Take 1.2 lb. or about 500 gm, scaled and cleaned white pomfret. I have four fishes here.

    Make deep gashes in the fish on both sides. Marinate for 10 minutes in salt, lemon juice and turmeric powder.

    This helps in reducing the fishy smell.

    pomfret fishes marinated in lemon juice, salt and turmeric powder.

    2. Take all the ingredients for a the second marinade and blend in a blender to a thick paste.

    3. The 2nd marinade paste is quite thick. It has a rich red colour from Kashmiri chilli powder.

    Reduce cayenne or spices as per your preference.

    Marinade for pomfret fish in a blender jar.

    4. Generously apply the marinade to the fish, both outside and inside.

    Marinate for 15 minutes.

    Pomfret fish marinated in masala on a shallow plate.

    Shallow Fry

    5. Shallow fry in 2 tbsp. hot oil.

    Three minutes on each side was enough for me.

    Don't overcook the fish. Serve hot with onion rings and lemon wedges.

    Pomfret tawa fry served with lemon and onion slices

    Air fryer Instructions

    Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes.

    Brush air fryer basket with oil or use a parchment paper with holes.

    Place 2 marinated fishes on the basket.

    2 pomfret fish coated with masala and placed in air fryer basket for frying.

    Air fry at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes.

    Apply oil with a brush and flip the fish so that both sides get equally browned.

    Again cook in the air fryer for 180C or 360F for 5 minutes.

    Your fish is done perfectly and is evenly cooked.

    2 pomfret fish after air frying in air fryer basket.

    Take it out and serve hot with lemon wedges and onion rings.

    If you have larger fishes then your air frying time will be more. So do watch out for that.

    Enjoy tasty pomfret fry.

    Pomfret fry in a red masala served on a white plate with lime and onion slices.

    Here's the recipe card:

    Pomfret fry on a white plate.

    Pomfret Fry

    Rachna Parmar
    This is a super tasty and spicy pomfret fish fry recipe. Except for the marination time, this recipe is super quick and really a delight for fish lovers. Do try.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Marination time 25 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4
    Calories 239 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Air fryer
    • 1 Chef's knife

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 pomfret fish 1.1 lb or 500 gm. cleaned, scales removed

    For 1st marinade

    • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
    • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
    • ¼ tsp. salt

    For 2nd marinade

    • 1 tsp. garlic paste or minced
    • 1 tsp. ginger paste or minced
    • 2 green chillies
    • 2 tsp. olive oil
    • ½ tsp. coriander powder
    • 1 tbsp. Kashmiri red chilli powder
    • 1 tsp. red chilli powder optional
    • 1 tbsp. chickpea flour or besan
    • salt to taste
    • 2 tbsp. Oil for shallow frying

    Garnish

    • Onion slices
    • Lemon slices

    Instructions
     

    • Clean the fish well. Make slashes on both sides in the flesh so that the fish absorbs the marinade well.
    • Apply salt, turmeric and lemon juice on the fishes. Ensure that you apply in the slashes and the body cavity. Keep aside for 10 minutes.
    • Prepare the marinade by mixing ginger garlic paste with chickpea flour, ground coriander, garam masala, Kashmiri chilli powder, chilli powder and salt. Add little water to make a thick paste.
    • Apply this marinade on the pomfret pieces ensuring that you apply inside the gashes and in the cavity. Marinate for 15-30 minutes.

    Shallow Fry

    • Now heat a pan to shallow fry the pomfret. Add 2 tbsp. oil and heat. Add marinated pomfret to the tawa or pan. Don’t crowd it too much.
    • Cook on each side for about 3 minutes on medium flame till each side is browned and the pomfret is well cooked.

    Air fryer Instructions

    • Take it out on a plate. Serve with onion rings and lemon slices. Put some chaat masala on top if needed.
    • Serve it with chilled beer or with a side of rice pulao. Your delicious pomfret fry is ready to eat.
    • Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes.
      Brush air fryer basket with oil or use a parchment paper with holes.
    • Place 2 marinated fishes on the basket.
      Air fry at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes. Apply oil with a brush and flip the fish so that both sides get equally browned.
    • Again cook in the air fryer for 180C or 360F for 5 minutes. Your fish is done perfectly and is evenly cooked.
    • If you have larger fishes then your air frying time will be more. So do watch out for that.
    • Take out the fish on a plate. Serve hot with onion rings and lemon wedges. Enjoy.

    Notes

    1. Always buy fresh fish. Look for transparent eyes and red gills.
    2. Marinating it first with turmeric, salt and lemon juice helps remove the fishy smell.
    3. Remember that the first marinade already has salt so add salt in the second one accordingly.
    4. You could use rava (semolina) or rice flour for a crunchy coating in place of besan or chickpea flour
    5. Don’t overcook the fish. You can also bake it or cook it in air fryer instead of tawa frying it. Some people deep fry it as well.
    6. You can use this recipe for making other fish like seer fish, kingfish, mackerel, sardine etc. If you like you can coat the fish with some seasoned rava for a crunchy crust.
    7. Enjoy your pomfret tawa fry. If you do the marination in advance, this would be perfect for a get together with friends.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 23gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 200mgPotassium: 182mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2088IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 270mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know on Instagram @rachna.parmar or tag #rachnacooks
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    If you liked this recipe, I request you to leave a star rating. Thanks.

    More Seafood

    • Bengali fish curry in a white plate served with boiled rice
      Bengali Fish Curry Recipe
    • Air fryer Shrimp
    • pink perch fry
      Kerala Style Fish Fry (Step-by-step Recipe)
    • Mangalorean Prawn Curry Recipe | Prawn Gassi (Step-by-step Recipe)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rekha says

      January 09, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      Will share the recipe with the husband as he cooks non-veg here.

      Reply
    2. theloveofspice says

      January 10, 2019 at 8:26 am

      This looks SO delicious, Rachna! Pomfret is one of my favorites, though I do love my chicken too! ?

      Love the step by step photos!

      Reply
    3. Shilpa Garg says

      January 10, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars

      Wow! That looks so perfect, inviting and delicious. I so want to dig into it. Will share this recipe with KG. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        January 13, 2019 at 7:40 pm

        Thanks Shilpa!

        Reply
    4. Vinitha says

      January 11, 2019 at 7:21 am

      5 stars
      I’m drooling here. Definitely trying this recipe next time.

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        January 13, 2019 at 7:39 pm

        Thanks Vinitha ?

        Reply
    5. Sanch @ Sanch Writes says

      January 13, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      That looks delicious! I might try the marinade for some other fish though as I’m not sure if I’ve seen pomfret here. In any case, I’m still a bit wary to use a whole fish and prefer buying fillets

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        January 13, 2019 at 7:31 pm

        I think it should work with any firm fish. Fillets are fine as well.

        Reply

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