Air Fried Whole Fish with Sweet & Sour Sauce
What is this Sweet And Sour Fish Dish?
The flavors of this fish recipe are inspired by the classic Chinese sweet and sour pork. Traditionally, that dish features stir-fried pork in a sweet and sour sauce. This version, however, draws from Lao cuisine, where fried fish with various sauces is common. The sweet and sour sauce in this recipe uses fish sauce and lime for a Lao twist. To make it healthier, the fish is air-fried instead of deep-fried.
Introduction To Air Fryers And Their Benefits
The key technique in this recipe is using an air fryer. I love this air fryer fish recipe. I've been using one for years and love how it makes food healthier and simplifies cleanup. If you're new to air fryers, they're appliances that circulate hot air quickly in a confined space, helping food crisp up better than in a traditional oven. This allows you to fry foods with less oil. For this recipe, I used the Typhur Dome Air Fryer because it has a large cooking capacity.
Ingredients Needed For The Air Fryer Version
Fish
Tilapia: One of my favorite fish, but you can substitute any other freshwater fish. If you don't have access to whole fish, you can use fish fillets.
Salt
Cornstarch: Works great as a sauce thickener.
Green onions: For garnish.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Vegetable oil
Yellow onion
Bell pepper: Use a variety of colors for a vibrant look like the red bell pepper
Pineapple: Fresh pineapple is best for maintaining texture.
White sugar: you can also use honey
Pineapple juice
Fish sauce: or you can use soy sauce
Ketchup: Adds a rich red color to the sauce.
Cornstarch
Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice is best. If you don't have limes, you can use vinegar
Step By Step Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients
It's important to use a fresh pineapple for the sweet and sour sauce because the pineapple stays firm. After you remove the peel, one of my favorite tools to use is the pineapple eye remover as it diagonally removes the eyes without taking too much of the fruit. Now it's ready to cut the pineapple from the core and dice each pineapple into inch size pieces.
I like using bright colors with bell peppers so the first step is to cut the pepper in half and then remove the top stem and also the inside seeds. Dice each pepper into inch size pieces.
With the yellow onion, remove the peel and then cut it in half. Dice the onion into inch size pieces as well.
Lets prepare the thickener. In a small bowl, add the cornstarch and water and mix well and place to the side.
Make the Sauce
Lets prepare the sauce first in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes until the onions are translucent. Toss in the pineapple chunks, diced bell peppers, and saute for a few seconds. Add the sugar, a cup of pineapple juice, a tablespoon of fish sauce, some ketchup for that color, some lime juice and then mix well. As the sauce simmers, add the cornstarch slurry and mix well until it starts to thicken. Taste the sauce and adjust to your liking. The sauce is done and place it to the side.
Prepare the Fish
Lets prepare the fish. I bought this fish from an Asian store where you can ask them to scale and gut the fish so when you bring it home all you have to do is give it an extra rinse and then dry it off with some paper towels. With scissors, cut off some of the fins on the tail and the bottom.
From the top to bottom of the fish, make deep cuts with about an inch and a half between slices. Do this on both sides and then heavily salt both sides of the fish as well. In a large bowl, add a generous portion of cornstarch then place the whole fish in the bowl and cover the fish cornstarch. Make sure to dust off the access start and place the fish on parchment paper and then into the air fryer basket.
Cook the Fish
Spray the fish on one side with some oil and air fry at 400F for 20 minutes. Half way int he cooking process, carefully flip the fish and then spray with oil then continue the cooking process. A cool feature is the Tyfur app that is connected to the air fryer so it will alert you when the cooking time is done.
When the fish is done, take the fish out by the parchment paper and then place it on a large serving plate. Start spoon the sauce over the fish. There should be extra sauce so feel free to place the sauce to the side if people want extra sauce later.
And look at how crispy the fish skin is. Finally, garnish with green onions and serve.
Tips For Selecting And Preparing The Fish
When I bought the whole fish at the Asian supermarket, the seller helped me choose the best one. He advised that the fish should have clear eyes and dark red or purple gills to ensure freshness. Other than that, it's just about picking the right size. I chose a two-pound fish, which fit perfectly in the air fryer.
Variation Ideas For The Recipe
Feel free to get creative with the sauces you drizzle over the fish. A popular variation is topping it with a refreshing, spicy unripe mango salad. Share in the comments what other sauces you enjoy on fried fish! Also, try making this recipe with other proteins like chicken.
More Lao Recipes
Air Fried Whole Fish with Sweet & Sour Sauce
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the pineapple: Use a fresh pineapple for the sauce. After peeling, use a pineapple eye remover to take out the eyes without wasting fruit. Cut the pineapple from the core and dice into 1-inch pieces.
- Prepare the bell peppers: Cut the pepper in half, remove the stem and seeds, and dice into 1-inch pieces.
- Prepare the onion: Peel, halve, and dice the onion into 1-inch pieces.
- Make the cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water and set aside.
- Cook the sweet and sour sauce: In a medium pan on high heat, sauté onions until translucent. Add pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and sauté briefly. Stir in sugar, pineapple juice, fish sauce, ketchup, and lime juice. As the sauce simmers, add the cornstarch slurry and stir until thickened. Set sauce aside.
- Prepare the fish: Rinse and pat dry a pre-cleaned fish (scaled and gutted). Trim the fins with scissors and make deep cuts 1 ½ inches apart on both sides of the fish. Salt both sides heavily.
- Coat the fish: In a large bowl, coat the fish in cornstarch, dust off the excess, and place it on parchment paper in the air fryer tray.
- Air fry the fish: Spray one side with oil and air fry at 400°F for 20 minutes. Flip the fish halfway, spray with oil again, and continue frying.
- Finish and serve: Once done, place the fish on a serving plate and spoon the sauce over it. Garnish with green onions and serve extra sauce on the side.
Sabaidee, I’m Saeng!
I’m a personal chef who specializes in Lao food. Here at Saeng’s Kitchen, you’ll find all your favorite traditional Lao foods and also some new twists to Lao style dishes.