Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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This delicious keto fried fish is coated in almond flour, then cooked in avocado oil until hot and crispy.

Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy recipe is amazingly close to the real thing!

Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

I developed this recipe for my daughter, who refuses to touch fish unless it's fish and chips. But I like serving my family fish and seafood; making her a separate dish isn't the best option.

So as a happy compromise, I make sole meunière or keto-fried fish once a week. I serve them with jicama fries, and everyone's happy! It's a compromise only because it's more work than baking fish such as this baked cod. It's not a compromise in terms of flavor.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Keto Fried Fish Instructions
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Fish Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card
  • Reviews

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

  • Egg: I use large eggs in most of my recipes, this one included.
  • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme.
  • Fish: I use thin (½-inch-thick) fillets of firm, white fish such as cod.
  • Almond flour: I use blanched, finely ground almond flour in this recipe. A coarse almond meal will work too.
  • Avocado oil: This oil has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point, making it an ideal cooking oil.

Variations

There are two main ways to vary this recipe. You can use different fats to cook the fish, and you can use different seasonings.

In terms of fats, I like using ghee as an alternative to avocado oil. It's very flavorful, and it has a high smoke point.

In terms of seasonings, I sometimes use dried oregano instead of dried thyme. You can also add a pinch of onion powder and/ or paprika.

Keto Fried Fish Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

  • In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg with the seasonings. (Photo 1).
  • Dip each fish fillet into the egg mixture. (Photo 2).
  • Place each fillet on a cutting board, and sprinkle both sides with almond flour. Press with your hands to help the coating adhere. (Photo 3).
  • Pour avocado oil into a large nonstick frying pan, enough to reach about ½ inch high. Heat over medium-high heat.
  • Carefully place the fish fillets in the pan (work in batches if necessary). Cook until the bottom is golden brown and crisp, 3-4 minutes. (Photo 4).
  • Flip the fish. Lower the heat to medium and keep cooking until crisp and cooked through, about 3-4 more minutes. (Photo 5).
  • Serve immediately. (Photo 6).
Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (2)

Expert Tips

  1. It's best to use a nonstick skillet when making this recipe. I do often use stainless steel, but then there's more of a risk of the coating sticking to the skillet, even with a generous amount of oil.
  2. It's better to sprinkle the fish pieces with almond flour than to dredge them. When dredging, the almond flour that remains in the bowl becomes soggy, sticky, and pretty much useless.

Recipe FAQs

Should I deep-fry the fish?

There's no need to deep-fry the fish. Using half an inch of oil in the skillet and frying the fish on both sides works perfectly.

Can I bake the fish instead of frying it?

Yes. You can arrange the coated fish pieces on a greased parchment-lined baking sheet (use high-temperature parchment), liberally spray them with oil, and bake until crispy on the outside and cooked through on the inside. In my oven, this takes about 10 minutes per side at 400°F.

How do I know when fish is fully cooked?

According to the USDA, fish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F. When done, its inside should be opaque, and you should be able to easily flake the meat with a fork.

Serving Suggestions

It's always a good idea to serve white fish with lemon slices on the side in addition to tartar sauce or sriracha mayo for dipping.

When it comes to sides, anything goes with keto-fried fish! It's such a versatile main dish. But if you'd like to recreate the experience of eating fish and chips, serve it with jicama fries or zucchini fries.

It's also excellent with a salad. I like to serve it with cucumber tomato salad, arugula salad, or broccoli salad.

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

The coating will lose some of its crispness. If you'd like to preserve the crispiness, it's best to reheat the leftovers in a 250°F oven.

Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (3)

More Fish Recipes

  • Grilled Halibut
  • Pan-Fried Rainbow Trout
  • Baked Catfish
  • Baked Cod

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Recipe Card

Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (8)

4.97 from 515 votes

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Crispy Keto Fried Fish

This deliciousketo fried fishis coated in almond flour, then cooked in avocado oil until hot and crispy.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 447kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme.

  • Dip each fish fillet into the egg mixture. Place it on a cutting board, and sprinkle both sides with the almond flour, ¼ cup per fillet, pressing with your hands to help the coating adhere. I find that this method works better than dredging the fish in the almond flour; when dredging, the almond flour that remains in the bowl becomes soggy, sticky, and pretty much useless.

  • Pour avocado oil into a large nonstick frying pan, enough to reach about ½ inch high. Heat over medium-high heat until hot, 3-5 minutes.

  • Carefully place the fillets in the pan (work in batches if necessary). Cook until their bottom is golden brown and crisp, 3-4 minutes.

  • Flip the fish. Lower the heat to medium. Cook until crisp and cooked through, about 3-4 more minutes. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  • In the nutrition info, I estimated that each fish fillet absorbs about 1 tablespoon of oil.
  • It's best to use a nonstick skillet when making this recipe. I do often use stainless steel, but then there's more of a risk of the coating sticking to the skillet, even with a generous amount of oil.
  • According to the USDA, fish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F. When done, its inside should be opaque, and you should be able to easily flake the meat with a fork.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently, in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. The coating will lose some of its crispness. If you'd like to preserve the crispiness, it's best to reheat the leftovers in a 250°F oven.

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 1fillet | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 428mg | Fiber: 3g

Made this Recipe?

If you made this recipe, please leave a comment sharing your experience with others. Thank you so much!

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Disclaimers

Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

About the Author

Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (9) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Review this Recipe or Ask a Question:

  1. Paul Halbert

    Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (10)
    Loved this recipe!!! I added a 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper. Gave it a subtle kick, was amazing!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi Paul,
      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe! I love the idea of adding cayenne - thanks for sharing it!

      Reply

  2. doug shaffer

    We are not able to use normal flour can we use almond flour?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi Doug,
      Absolutely. The recipe calls for this almond flour.

      Reply

Crispy Keto Fried Fish - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

How to get a good crust on fried fish? ›

For a rich, crispy crust, you need to make a batter. Panko breadcrumbs make the best batter for deep-fried fish. Beat one egg and 1/2 cup of dark beer or milk together in a shallow dish.

What is the healthiest way to fry fish? ›

Overall, pan-frying is considered healthier than deep-frying due to the smaller amounts of oil it uses. Additionally, it's best to choose an oil that's stable at high heat and will add healthier fats to your fish. Olive oil is one healthy option.

Can you have deep fried fish on keto? ›

This keto fried fish is amazing and tastes just like restaurant beer-battered fish! A mix of finely ground almond flour and unflavored whey protein powder gives you the perfect light and crispy texture.

How to breadcrumb fish without flour? ›

Set up two shallow bowls, one with buttermilk and one with cornmeal seasoned as you like: at a minimum, salt and pepper, but you can add things like garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, herbs that you like, etc. Dip the fish fillets or chunks in the buttermilk, then in the corn meal until well coated.

How do you get golden crust on fish? ›

Add fish - it should sizzle straight away. Shake the pan lightly to move the fish. Cook for 2 minutes until golden and crisp, pressing down gently, then flip. Cook the other side for 2 minutes until crisp then remove.

Which fish is best for keto? ›

The healthiest and best seafood to consume while on the keto diet is high in protein and healthy fats while low in carbohydrates. Some of the best keto friendly seafood include salmon, mahi-mahi, mackerel, and crab.

Which seafood is not keto friendly? ›

Fish and shellfish are very keto-friendly. Salmon and other fish are not only nearly carb-free but also rich in B vitamins, potassium, and selenium ( 9 ). However, the carb count in shellfish varies by type. While shrimp and most crabs contain no carbs, oysters and octopus do.

Will fried foods kick you out of ketosis? ›

Fried chicken can be part of a healthy keto diet as long as you prepare it right, substituting high-carb ingredients with healthy fat and low-carb alternatives. These primarily include breading and cooking oil. As much as possible, avoid consuming take-out fried chicken unless you remove the breading before eating it.

Why does my breading fall off my fish? ›

If the heat is insufficient the protein will release large amounts of water which will make the coating come loose from the fish. If the heat is excessive the coating will burn before the fish is cooked. Therefore the pan and the fat should be very hot when you start frying, but you can lower the heat as you proceed.

Can you use cornstarch instead of flour for frying fish? ›

Both flour and cornstarch are used to coat chicken, fish, and vegetables before deep-frying. Cornstarch typically makes for a crispier finish than flour. Cornstarch absorbs moisture from the food and expands, giving deep-fried foods a crispy coating.

Should you dip fish in flour before frying? ›

Avoid olive oil and butter since they'll burn at the high temperatures required for frying. Don't skip the flour coating since it provides a delicious crispy texture, protects the fish from soaking up too much oil, and also keeps the fillet in one piece.

Why is my fried fish not crispy? ›

Cook one or two fillets at a time to ensure that they cook evenly and don't release too much moisture. Overcrowding the pan can cause the temperature to drop and can result in the fish becoming soggy rather than crispy.

How do you keep fried fish crispy? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

References

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