Chinese Salt & Pepper Fish. Crispy Chinese fish with a delicious with a flavourful and spicy kick. Takes only 30 minutes to whip up and is perfect for dinner or leftovers!
My Chinese salt and pepper fish recipe is incredibly easy to make at home! This version is also not deep-fried but shallow fried in oil making it slightly more healthier than the version at the restaurant.
There is something about that salt and pepper flavour that is so classic in terms of taste. In Chinese cuisine, there's so many versions of this flavour profile, such as salt and pepper seafood, salt and pepper squid, pork, tofu, chicken, shrimp, you name it! It's so versatile.
Chinese salt and pepper fish is a popular dish served at Asian restaurants and it pairs deliciously with some steamed white rice and saucy vegetables. I always ordered it with my husband.
You don't need a deep fryer for this recipe, just a large wok or pan since we are shallow frying the fish. Just make sure to pat dry
I also share other recipes like my Chinese salt and pepper fish fillet recipe so check them out below!
Other recipes you may like!
Chinese Salt & Pepper Tofu
Baked Dill Fish Sticks
Fish n Chips Sheet Pan Meal
Sriracha Mayo Salmon
For this recipe
You will need the following ingredients for this Chinese salt pepper fish:
- 800 grams cod filets sliced into bite size pieces
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 red chilli sliced
- 2 tsp ginger chopped
- 2 stalk spring onion chopped
- 1 tsp cane sugar
- 1.5 tbsp Dry Sherry Wine
- ⅓ cup Avocado oil for frying
- Salt and pepper to taste
Fish Marinade
- 2 tbsp Dry Sherry Wine
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 egg
- 6 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
How to make Chinese Salt and Pepper Fish
- Pat fish very dry and slice into bite size pieces. This step is very important.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together your marinade ingredients. Marinate fish in batter.
- In a pot with avocado oil set over high heat, shallow fry your battered fish until golden crispy brown, about 7 minutes. Remove fish from pot. Pour out the oil.
- In the same pot set over medium heat, saute ginger, garlic, green onions, red chilli, and sugar. Throw in battered fish. Pour Dry Sherry over top. Fry for 1 minute and serve. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
About MSC Blue Fish
For my Chinese salt pepper fish recipe, you'll need certified sustainable cod filets with the MSC blue fish label, garlic, red chillies, ginger, spring onions, cane sugar, salt and pepper, dry sherry, avocado oil, egg and cornstarch.
I am teaming up with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for this recipe! They have kindly sponsored it. As you know I'm a big supporter of clean oceans and healthy fish that is ideally caught in the wild in a manner that respects our oceans and that’s why I’m happy to be working with the MSC; they are a global non-profit organization that works to reverse overfishing, keep oceans healthy, and protect our last major food source that’s truly wild: seafood!
This month is #NutritionMonth and the MSC is highlighting how seafood is a healthy alternative to traditional land-based proteins – and by choosing MSC certified sustainable seafood, you’re making a choice that is good for you and the ocean too
Why should you purchase sustainable seafood?
MSC Blue Fish Label ensures that the seafood you are consuming is caught sustainably not damaging the oceans and other surrounding wildlife.
When you choose seafood with the @MSCbluefish label – this means it’s certified sustainable, wild and traceable to its source, so it’s good for the oceans, too. By purchasing products with this label, it is a direct vote for healthy oceans and it’s so easy to do!
It's a small gesture but it has a huge impact on our ocean health. Just look for the #MSCbluefish label when shopping to make a certified wild, sustainable, and traceable choice! Know that your purchase is supporting a well-managed, sustainable fishery that works hard to conserve the marine environment
This way you can feel good about your seafood purchasing decisions. It’s #FeelGoodSeafood!
Did you know that fish is good for you?
The Seafood Nutrition Partnership recommends eating seafood at least two times a week. Why?
- Research shows that eating seafood at least twice per week reduces the risk of death from any health-related cause by 17 percent.
- Seafood includes vital nutrients needed for health and wellness at all ages, including protein, omega-3s, B vitamins, and minerals like iron and selenium. These nutrients are essential for strong bones, brain development, and healthy heart and immune systems.
What makes seafood a healthy protein choice?
- Seafood is an excellent protein source because of its versatility and ease of cooking. Fish and shellfish are lean sources of protein. The fats in fish are heart-healthy omega-3, which are anti-inflammatory and have many benefits.
- Fish is high-protein, low-fat food that provides a range of health benefits. Most white-fleshed fish are lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oily fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, or the "good" fats.
- When it comes to fish with the highest levels of omega-3s, there’s salmon, mackerel, and swordfish, to name a few.
- According to the FDA, there is more vitamin B12 and vitamin D in seafood than any other type of food.
Where can you find MSC certified sustainable seafood in Canada?
Loblaws (includes Real Canadian Superstore, Fortinos, Provigo)
Whole Foods Market:
No Frills & Zehrs
Costco
Walmart
Sobeys
McDonald’s
BRANDS TO LOOK FOR:
Frozen
President’s Choice
President’s Choice Black Label
Janes Fish
Kirkland
Aqua Star
Ocean Jewel
Compliments
Sensations
Findus
HouseCut
Olivia
Toppits
The Keg
Canned
Ocean’s
Gold Seal
President’s Choice
Raincoast Global
President’s Choice
Cloverleaf
Supplements
Nutra Sea
Pet
Petcurean
No Name
Simply Wil
Give it a try!
Well I hope you give my Chinese Salt & Pepper Fish recipe a try! It always excites me when you guys make my recipes and I hope this is one you try.
Thanks for visiting my blog! If you enjoyed this Chinese salt and pepper fish, please share it with your family and friends or on social media! Take a picture if you've made my recipe and tag me on Instagram @christieathome in your feed or stories so I can share your creation in my stories with credits to you!
Made this recipe and loved it?
If you could leave a star rating for my Chinese style salt and pepper fish, I would greatly appreciate it 🙂 Thanks so much!
Take care,
Christie
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Chinese Salt and Pepper Fish (20 min. Recipe)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 800 grams cod filet sliced into bite size pieces
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red chilli sliced
- 2 tsp ginger chopped
- 2 stalk green onion chopped
- 1 tsp cane sugar
- 1.5 tbsp Dry Sherry Wine
- ⅓ cup Avocado oil for frying
- Salt and pepper to taste
Fish Marinade
- 2 tbsp Dry Sherry Wine
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 egg
- 6 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Pat fish very dry and slice into bite size pieces. This step is very important.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together your marinade ingredients. Marinate fish in batter.
- In a pot with avocado oil set over high heat, shallow fry your battered fish until golden crispy brown, about 7 minutes. Remove fish from pot. Pour out the oil.
- In the same pot set over medium heat, saute ginger, garlic, red chilli, green onion and sugar. Throw in battered fish. Pour Dry Sherry over top. Fry for 1 minute and serve. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
NOTES
Looks delicious, Christie! We're definitely trying to get more fish into our diets and this looks like a yummy way to do it! So crispy!!
This recipe sounds so tasty AND healthy! Can't wait to try it.
This was so good! I made it last night and it had such a great spicy taste.
I love how you started this recipe with MSC certified cod filets... and the flavors you've added are so perfect! 💕💕
It came out very yummy! I found that the step of patting the fish dry is crucial otherwise the fish ends up not being crispy. I was a bit uncertain about how much fish is "two pieces." I cooked with 2lbs of fish and that worked out pretty well. Also remember to include the scallions in step 4 (at least I assume that's when they're supposed to go in). Thanks for all the info on sustainable fish!
Thank you so much Joe for your kind review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe and thanks for the note on how much fish you used! And oops, forgot the step on the scallions so thank you for reminding me to include that. Have a great day!