Tilapia is the fish I most likely prepare dinner greater than the rest. I grew up consuming it within the Philippines, and I nonetheless purchase it nearly each week right here in Florida. So Air Fryer Tilapia was sure to occur ultimately. I seasoned the fillets the identical means I all the time do, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and put them within the basket at 400°F. Seven minutes later the fish was achieved. Flaky inside, frivolously crisp outdoors. I keep in mind pondering I ought to have tried this sooner. Now air fryer tilapia is my weeknight default once I need fish however don’t really feel like coping with oil splatter.

My mother used to come back dwelling from the moist market with two or three entire tilapia, nonetheless moist, scales nonetheless on. She had this heavy aluminum pan that she solely used for frying fish. I don’t even know the place she received it. She would rating the perimeters, rub them down with salt, and fry them in means an excessive amount of oil. The entire home would odor like fish, and again then I used to hate it. I’d eat the fish although. All the time ate the fish.

Tilapia doesn’t want a lot. Salt, just a few spices, lemon. That’s about it.

What’s Air Fryer Tilapia?

Air fryer tilapia is a dish made by seasoning tilapia fillets with spices and cooking them in an air fryer till flaky and tender. The air fryer pushes scorching air across the fish at excessive pace, so that you get a frivolously crisp floor with out deep frying. I might be straight with you, it doesn’t style the identical as pan fried tilapia. Pan fried is best. The crust is deeper, the perimeters are crunchier, and the entire thing has extra taste from the oil. However pan fried additionally means standing over a scorching pan, getting splattered, and scrubbing the stovetop after. The air fryer model is what I prepare dinner once I don’t wish to do all that.

Within the Philippines, tilapia is all over the place. Moist markets, fish farms, yard ponds. My uncle had a small pond behind his home in Laguna and he raised tilapia in it. I have no idea if he nonetheless does. Filipinos grill it entire filled with tomatoes and onions, make sinigang na tilapia, fry it till the pores and skin cracks whenever you faucet it, and prepare dinner it in coconut milk. The identify comes from a Latin model of a Tswana phrase that simply means “fish.” Some individuals name it St. Peter’s fish, which I all the time thought was humorous. Grand identify for such a typical fish.

Why This Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe Works

Most of what makes this recipe work occurs earlier than the fish goes into the basket.

• Dry fillets brown. Moist fillets steam. Moisture on the floor creates steam contained in the basket, and steam prevents browning. Paper towels, each side, press firmly.
• Oil earlier than seasoning, not after. The olive oil provides the spice rub one thing to grip. With out it, half the rub finally ends up on the backside of the basket. I realized this the exhausting means. The primary time I skipped the oil, I opened the basket and the fillets had been mainly plain white fish sitting on a pile of spices.
• Excessive warmth, brief time. Tilapia is skinny. At 400°F, it cooks by way of in minutes, which suggests the within stays juicy. Go decrease and you’re mainly baking it.

Elements

• Tilapia fillets – Delicate white fish, works with any seasoning you throw at it
• Olive oil – Simply sufficient to coat
• Paprika – Colour and a bit of heat
• Garlic powder – I desire this over recent garlic within the air fryer as a result of recent garlic burns at excessive warmth
• Onion powder – Delicate sweetness
• Salt – Don’t skip it. Tilapia with out salt tastes like nothing.
• Floor black pepper – Only a bit
• Lemon wedges – Squeezed on proper earlier than you eat

This takes about 10 minutes. Perhaps 12 if you happen to rely the seasoning.

1. Pat the fillets dry on each side with paper towels. I often undergo two or three towels per batch.
2. Combine the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Brush olive oil on each side of every fillet.
4. Rub the spice combine throughout. Get the perimeters too, not simply the flat surfaces.

Oil first, then spices. I’ve seen individuals do it the opposite means and marvel why the seasoning falls off.

1. Preheat to 400°F. Two minutes is sufficient.
2. Lay the fillets within the basket. Single layer, no overlapping.
3. Prepare dinner 7 to 10 minutes. Test at 7. You need the fish to flake simply with a fork. Inner temp ought to hit 145°F.
4. Transfer them to a plate, squeeze lemon on prime, and serve with rice.

I can match three fillets in my basket. 4 if I actually squeeze them in, however then those within the center don’t prepare dinner proper. Two batches is best.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Tilapia

Storage

Actually, storage isn’t actually a problem with this recipe as a result of it will get eaten.

• Fridge: Hermetic container, as much as 3 days. Hold it away from something with a powerful odor.
• Freezer: Freeze the seasoned, raw fillets wrapped in foil inside a freezer bag. As much as 3 months. Prepare dinner from frozen at 400°F, about 12 to 14 minutes.
• Reheating: Air fryer, 350°F, 2 to three minutes. Don’t microwave it. Simply don’t.

• Tilapia – Cod or swai work. Catfish too, although it’s thicker so add a minute or two. Don’t use salmon. Flawed fish for this.
• Olive oil – Avocado oil or melted butter. Cooking spray is ok.
• Paprika – Smoked paprika if you would like extra depth. I’ve used Cajun seasoning once I felt prefer it.
• Garlic powder – You need to use recent garlic however it burns quick. Your name.
• Lemon – Lime works. Calamansi is even higher if you will get it.

Extra Fish Recipes

• Fried Tilapia – The way in which my mother made it, golden and crispy with a vinegar dip on the facet
• Grilled Tilapia – Complete fish in foil with tomatoes and onions, nice for weekends
• Ginataang Tilapia – Fried tilapia simmered in coconut milk with lengthy inexperienced peppers
• Candy and Bitter Tilapia – Complete fish with that tangy sauce poured proper on prime
• Sinanglay na Tilapia – Filled with garlic, onion, and ginger, wrapped in bok choy leaves, cooked in coconut milk
• Nilasing na Tilapia – Wine-marinated and fried. My spouse asks for this one quite a bit.

I hope you do this Air Fryer Tilapia recipe. It’s what I prepare dinner most weeknights now after we need fish. Rice, lemon, achieved. My son requested me to make it 3 times final week, which is how I do know the recipe is stable. He doesn’t ask twice for issues he doesn’t really like. If you wish to see different methods I prepare dinner tilapia, I put collectively an inventory of my favourite tilapia recipes some time again.

Did you make this? If you happen to snap a photograph, please be certain tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we will see your creations!

Air Fryer Tilapia

Air Fryer Tilapia is a quick and simple technique to prepare dinner seasoned tilapia fillets till flaky and frivolously crisp. A easy spice rub of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder coats the fish, and the air fryer does the remaining in below 10 minutes. Serve with steamed rice and a squeeze of recent lemon.

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Prepare dinner: 10 minutes minutes

Complete: 15 minutes minutes

Gear

• 1 Air fryer Any model or mannequin works for this recipe.

• 1 Small Mixing Bowl For combining the spice rub.

• 1 Pastry brush For making use of olive oil evenly on the fillets.

Directions

• Pat the tilapia fillets dry on each side utilizing paper towels. This helps the seasoning stick and offers the fish a greater texture.

  4 items tilapia fillets

• Mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and floor black pepper in a small bowl. Combine nicely.

  2 teaspoons paprika, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon floor black pepper

• Brush each side of the tilapia fillets with olive oil. Rub the seasoning combination evenly over the fish, protecting all surfaces.

  4 items tilapia fillets, 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for two minutes.

• Organize the tilapia fillets within the air fryer basket in a single layer with area between each bit. Keep away from overlapping so the fillets prepare dinner evenly.

• Prepare dinner for 7 to 10 minutes, or till the fish flakes simply with a fork and the inner temperature reaches 145°F.

• Switch the fillets to a serving plate and squeeze recent lemon juice on prime.

  lemon wedges

• Serve with steamed rice.

Notes

Basket dimension varies — Most air fryer baskets match 3 fillets comfortably. If cooking for 4 or extra, work in batches slightly than crowding the basket. Lining the basket — A bit of parchment paper reduce to suit the underside of the basket makes cleanup simpler and prevents the spice rub from sticking. Poke just a few holes within the paper so air can nonetheless flow into. Double the spice rub — Combine a bigger batch of the seasoning and retailer it in a small jar. It retains for months and works on any white fish, shrimp, or hen breast. Bone-in tilapia — This recipe works finest with boneless fillets. If you happen to solely have bone-in tilapia, add 3 to 4 additional minutes and test for doneness close to the bone.

Vitamin Info

Energy: 42kcal (2%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fats: 4g (6%) Saturated Fats: 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.5g Monounsaturated Fats: 3g Ldl cholesterol: 1mg Sodium: 584mg (24%) Potassium: 52mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 0.2g Vitamin A: 494IU (10%) Vitamin C: 0.1mg Calcium: 7mg (1%) Iron: 0.4mg (2%)

© copyright: Vanjo Merano