Name: Air Fryer Andhra Fish Fry
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 3 Frozen or Fresh Tilapia Fillets; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon Red chili powder or to taste; 1/2 teaspoon garam masala; 1 teaspoon coriander powder (optional); 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1 tablespoon Ginger-garlic paste; 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 8-10 curry leaves, finely minced; 2 tablespoons finely minced cilantro; Avocado oil spray for spraying the fish when air frying; A splash of lemon juice before serving ( optional)

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Super easy, spicy and crispy Andhra style Air Fryer Fish Fry made with simple spices and Tilapia. Crispy on the outside but super moist and flaky on the inside. Any mild flavored fish can be used in this recipe.

Andhra style fish fry in a white rectangular plate with onions and cilantro garnish.

I grew up in a coastal town of Andhra Pradesh eating seafood almost everyday and I love all kinds of seafood. Fish, shrimp, crab… everything! And then, I married this guy who hates seafood. Wah-wah! The only dish he and the kids will eat is a fish fry but again, he hates the smell when the fish is fried. So, guess who was the happiest person in the world when I discovered that air fried fish does not stink up the whole place.. ME!!!! Air fryer fries up the fish super crispy without deep-frying in oil and without the fishy smell all over the place.. I love it!

What fish works best for this fry?

Since we are adding ton of flavor and spice into this fish, I would suggest using a mild flavored fishes like Tilapia, trout or any fresh water fish. Both Frozen or fresh fish work with this recipe. Salmon works well too but I slice the salmon into halves horizontally, so they crisp up better.

How to make the Air Fryer Fish Fry?

Cut the tilapia fillets into even pieces and wash it well. I prefer to wash the seafood in salt water to get rid of the fishy smell. Its completely optional. If you are using frozen tilapia, thaw it out completely.
Drain all the water from fish and add salt(very little, as the fish has enough salt), Red chili powder, garam masala, coriander powder, turmeric, Ginger-garlic paste, a splash of avocado oil, curry leaves and cilantro.
Let the fish marinate for 15-20 minutes.

Line the Air fryer with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Poke holes in the aluminum foil, so the air circulates easily.
Place the fish pieces on the foil and spray avocado oil spray on them. Make sure to leave enough space between the fish pieces, do not overcrowd them.
Air Fry at 400 Fahrenheit or 200 Celsius for 15-18 minutes, flip them over at 7 minute mark. Each air fryer is different, so the timings might vary depending on the size of the fish pieces. Adjust the timings as needed, until the fish is as crispy as you like.

How to save and heat up the Air Fryer Fish Fry?

The fish fry stays crisp at room temperature for at least a day. After a day, save in the refrigerator. If you save it in the refrigerator, Heat it up in the microwave or for 2-3 minutes in the air fryer.

What is the fish fry served with?

This fish fry tastes delicious with rice and dal or lentil curry. I like to eat with Mango pickle and a dollop of ghee on white rice.. yum!

Try these dals with this fish fry:

Radish greens dal in a red bowl with curry leaves on top.

Radish Greens Masoor dal (Red lentils with Radish greens)

Yellow Squash dal with tempering of curry leaves, dried red chilies and onion.

Yellow Squash Dal / Pappu

Dandelion Greens Dal

Yield: 4 servings