Chinese Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet Stir-fry
User Reviews
4.8
72 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
395 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese
Chinese Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet Stir-fry
Report
This Chinese Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet Stir-fry features crispy battered cod chunks fried until golden and coated in a tangy sweet and sour sauce with pineapple, colorful bell peppers, and red onion. The batter includes baking powder and cornstarch for light crispiness, and the sauce thickens with a cornstarch slurry, combining acidity, sweetness, and savory notes. The dish offers a contrast between crunchy fried fish and glossy, mildly sweet vegetables.
Description
Chinese Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet Stir-fry begins with fresh cod fillets cut into cubes and coated in a batter of all-purpose flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, turmeric, and white pepper. Adding sesame oil and cold seltzer water creates a smooth batter that fries to a crispy, light texture. The fish pieces are deep-fried in hot canola oil until lightly golden and cooked through, maintaining a tender interior.
The sweet and sour sauce is made by simmering pineapple chunks and juice with diced red and green bell peppers, red onion, ketchup, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and water. A cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce to coat the fish evenly. The finished dish balances tanginess from vinegar and pineapple with sweetness and savory umami from the ketchup and spices.
This stir-fry can be served with steamed rice to complement the saucy fish and vegetables, making for a classic and satisfying main course.
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Ingredients
For the fish:
- 12 ounces cod fillet (340g, rinsed clean, pat dry and cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 3 cups canola oil (for frying)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- ⅔ cup seltzer or club soda, cold
For the Sweet and Sour sauce:
- ¼ cup red onion (cut into a 1-inch dice)
- ¼ cup bell pepper cut into a 1-inch dice, red
- ¼ cup green bell pepper cut into a 1-inch dice
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 3/4 cup pineapple chunks canned
- ¾ cup pineapple juice from the can
- 2 ½ tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed into a slurry with 2 tablespoons water)
Instructions
- Make sure your fish fillet is clean and pat dry to ensure your fried fish gets really crispy. Heat 3 cups of oil in a small pot (to conserve oil) to 380 degrees F. You can use a thermometer or check the temperature by putting a drop of batter into the oil. The batter should not turn brown right away. Instead, it should rise immediately to the surface and turn a very light golden brown.
- To make the batter, mix together all the dry ingredients––the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, turmeric, and white pepper. When you’re ready to fry, mix in the sesame oil and cold seltzer water until the batter is smooth.
- Next, drop the fish fillets into the batter. Ensure they are evenly coated, but allow the excess to drip off (if there’s too much batter on the fish, you’ll end up with dough balls!). Carefully place the fish into the oil one piece at a time, ensuring that they don’t stick to each other. Fry in batches so that the fish pieces aren’t overcrowded, frying for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Scoop the fried fish out and transfer to a cooling rack placed over a baking sheet to drain. Repeat until all the fish has been fried.
- Next, put two teaspoons of the frying oil in a separate wok or skillet over high heat, and toss in the onions, and peppers. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, and then stir in the ketchup. Fry for another 20 seconds––frying the ketchup brings out the color and makes for a better depth of flavor in the sweet and sour sauce.
- Mix in the pineapple, pineapple juice, red wine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar, and bring the liquid to a low simmer for 2 minutes. With the sweet and sour sauce still simmering, slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon.
- At this point, if the fried fish fillets have softened, you can refry them in the oil heated to 400F for 30 seconds in larger batches. The higher heat is needed because the oil will cool immediately after putting in a larger batch of fish in the oil.
- Once the fish is ready, toss it into the wok, and fold into the sauce with 3 or 4 scooping motions until the pieces are lightly coated. Plate and serve immediately!
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
395kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
37g
(12%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
20g
(31%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
37mg
(12%)
Sodium
538mg
(22%)
Potassium
555mg
(12%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
17g
(34%)
Vitamin A
395IU
(8%)
Vitamin C
28.5mg
(32%)
Calcium
40mg
(4%)
Iron
1.3mg
(7%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 395 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 395kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 37g | 12% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 37mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 538mg | 22% |
| Potassium | 555mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 395IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 28.5mg | 32% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.3mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
72 reviews
Excellent
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