Best Fried Fish Recipe

So it has been drizzling here in our city and on some days we may see bright and sunny days. To compliment the cold weather, we decided to make our signature family fried fish. I have been experimenting with various methods and recipes for fried fish to get the crispiest and most juicy fish. Here is the BEST recipe for a juicy and delicious fried fish:

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of Frozen/Fresh fish (preferably Basa or you can also use cod). I like to buy the Packaged Cod at Costco
• 3 tbsp of white flour
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of pepper
• 1/2 tsp of paprika (optional) or 1 tsp of Tandoori Masala
• 1/2 tsp of lemon juice

Method:

1. Defrost the fish by soaking it in warm water (in its' unopened packaging).
2. Once the fish is defrosted, cut the fillets into 2/3 inch sized pieces (the larger the pieces, the better it is to fry them without the flakes pulling apart). 
3. Now carefully mix all the ingredients in a bowl with the fish fillet pieces. Leave aside for 2-3 hours for marination. Remember to NOT add any water, as the fish itself releases some water.
4. Pour 1 and 1/2 inches of oil in a skillet and heat the oil to 350 degrees (oil temperature can be measured using an oil thermometer).
5. Once the oil is ready, carefully place the fish pieces in the skillet using fry tongs. Stay close-by to avoid over-frying or burning fish pieces.
6. The key is to not turn the fish every few minutes. You have to wait for the fish to turn medium-golden brown (not DARK brown) in the bottom before turning it over to the other side. Be carefully in turning the fish over so as to not to break the fish. Usually, I found that when I wait for the fish to turn golden brown (not dark brown) on one side, the fish holds in place.
7. Lay the finished fried fish pieces (tongue twister:) on a piece of wax paper to absorb any excess oil. Remember to serve the fish hot or warm to enjoy the great taste of the fish.

© Everything Family Guide

Optional: You may serve this fish with bread pieces (garlic bread is awesome) and boiled vegetables (below). I season my vegetables with salt and pepper. As a topper, my family loves red onion slices and lemon to go with the fish.

© Everything Family Guide

© Everything Family Guide

Enjoy!
Annie

Cheesy Quesadillas

Nowadays my kids are hooked on Quesadillas! They are super easy to make, delicious and filling, healthy and great for a person of any age to eat and enjoy! You can also pre-make a batch of the filling in advance and freeze it or keep it in the fridge for a day or two. I am also able to sneak in some veggies!!

© Everything Family Guide

(This recipe yields 12 quesadillas)

Before you begin, you will need:

• 1 lb regular ground beef (with fat)
• 1 large green/bell pepper (seeds removed and diced in small sized chunks)
• 1 large onion (chopped in med. sized chunks or shredded with cheese grater if you kids don't like onions)
• 1 tbsp garlic powder or fresh garlic paste
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cumin seeds or ground cumin (It's great for digestion.)
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (if you like a bit of spice, I usually skip this steps for kids)
• 2 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar, marble or mozzarella)
• Pack of large 12 tortillas (white or brown)
• 1 tbsp oil

Directions:

1. Turn on the heat to medium low on your stove. In a sauce pan add the ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Now let this cook for at least 20-25 minutes on medium low heat. Stir the ingredients occasionally to mix them well into the ground beef.
2. When the ground beef is done, add the onions and green pepper and stir for 5 minutes on medium high heat until the veggies are translucent. Take the pot off the stove.
3. Fill the tortillas with ground beef and shredded cheese on one side and fold the other side over.
4. Turn the stove to low heat (to keep the tortilla from burning or turning dark brown) and in a frying pan, add 1 tbsp oil. Now carefully add the tortillas on the frying pan using two spatulas to avoid any spillage. Cover the frying pan with a lid. Toast the tortilla on one side for 2-3 minutes so that the cheese melts, before turning it over.
5. Now place in a lidded tray or plate to keep the tortillas from hardening. You can also use aluminum foil to cover the tray. These can be made in advance for parties, as you can warm up the Quesadillas for a few seconds in the microwave before serving.

Overall, this recipe is delicious and easy to make. My family loves it every time. Sometimes I use left-over roast chicken (with gravy) and serve with onions, bell peppers and cheese and it tastes equally good.

What are some variations of Quesadillas that you make for your family?

Annie