Go Back
+ servings
Sweet and Sour Fish in a white serving dish with a plate of steamed rice on the side
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Sweet and Sour Sauce Fish

Level up plain fried fish fillets into this tasty Sweet and Sour Fish! It's easy to prepare, economical, and perfect for your everyday meals or even for special occasions.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Entree
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 496kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tilapia fillets, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg, well beaten
  • canola oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded, cored, and cut into cubes
  • 1 onion, peeled and sliced thinly

For Sweet and Sour Sauce

  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • ½ cup rice vinegar
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine fish and soy sauce. Marinate for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Drain well.
  • In a bowl, whisk egg until frothy.
  • In another bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Dredge fish fillets in flour mixture, dip in the beaten egg, and then dredge again in flour mixture to fully coat.
  • In a pan over medium heat, heat about 1-inch deep of oil. Add battered fish fillets and cook, turning once or twice, until golden and cooked through. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
  • In a bowl, combine pineapple juice, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir until smooth.
  • In a pan over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon oil. Add bell peppers and onions and cook, stirring regularly, until half cooked. Remove from pan and set aside.
  • In the pan, add sauce mixture and bring to a boil, whisking regularly, for about 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened.
  • Add bell peppers and onions.
  • Add fried fish fillets and cook and toss quickly just until coated with sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Notes

  • For the best crisp, maintain oil at the optimal temperature of 350 F to 375 F when deep-frying. Too high and the outside coating will burn before the inside is thoroughly cooked; too low and they’ll absorb more grease.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan, and fry in batches as needed to prevent the oil temperature from plummeting.
  • Add pineapple chunks for extra flavor and texture.
  • You can finish off the sweet and sour fish in two ways.
  • You can drizzle the sauce just before serving to keep the fried fish nice and crispy or simmer them in the sauce to soak it up.

Nutrition

Calories: 496kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1308mg | Potassium: 658mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 1071IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg