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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Easy Fried Flounder Recipe

    Published: Jun 22, 2022 · Modified: Oct 9, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    358 shares
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    5 from 44 votes
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    Pinterest image for fried flounder

    Crispy golden brown fried flounder is a restaurant-quality dish that the whole family will love. Lightly breaded with seasoned panko bread crumbs and quick fried, the sweet, flaky filet of flounder will almost melt in your mouth.

    fried flounder filets on a white plate with lemon circles

    Serve it with lemon wedges and tartar sauce and you’ll think your sitting at a fish house off the Jersey Shore. The secret is getting the oil hot enough to quickly fry the breaded flounder.

    *The only time you get greasy fried foods is when the oil isn’t hot enough.

    fried flounder filets on a white plate with lemon circles

    You have to be careful handling the flounder once it starts to cook, it’s a delicate sweet fish that won’t take rough handling.

    This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    A Fine Mesh Skimmer is a great tool to have on hand if you’re deep-frying foods. It works really well on recipes like my Fried Shrimp and Fried Lobster Tails.

    This is the thermometer I use to test the oil to make sure it’s hot enough.

    What ingredients do I need to make Crispy Fried Flounder?

    ingredients to make fried flounder

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make fried flounder In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    What type of fish is flounder?

    Flounder, also known as Fluke (winter flounder) is a sweet, mild-tasting fish with a delicate, flaky texture. It’s a slightly fatty fish, but not fishy-tasting at all. Fresh flounder should have no distinct odor.

    How do I make Fried Flounder?

    The process is really simple for fried fish, shrimp, or scallops.

    breaded flounder fillets on a white platter

    Dip the flounder fillets in egg wash (beaten eggs with water or milk) and then into the seasoned bread crumbs. I seasoned my bread crumbs with sea salt, black pepper, paprika (to help bring out the golden brown color), grated Romano (or parmesan cheese), and chopped parsley.

    The most important lesson you need to learn when deep frying any food is that the temperature of the oil must be at least 325 degrees F. I prefer 350 degrees F because when you put food into the oil, the temperature drops. The extra 25 degrees helps compensate, ensuring your food gets crisp and not oily.

    If you’ve ever had oily fried food, you can be sure that the oil wasn’t hot enough, because properly fried foods will never be overly greasy. Crispy, crunchy, golden brown, and delicious. Those are the only terms you should ever use when describing fried food.

    fried flounder filets on a white plate with lemon circles

    Then it’s time to serve up the flounder with a side of tartar sauce and a wedge of lemon.

    Being a Southerner I always enjoyed eating fried fish. And if you’re looking for another delicious fried fish recipe my friends at Cook with Soul have the best Southern Fried Catfish Recipe you’ve ever tasted! Bonus it’s gluten-free and dairy-free.

    Easy homemade tartar sauce

    tartar sauce in a glass bowl

    The recipe for homemade tartar sauce is very simple. Some recipes call for dill pickles or dill relish, but then you need to add sugar to compensate. Many recipes have a slew of ingredients but what they’re making is actually a remoulade. Tartar sauce is a very simple creation and can be modified to suit your tastes.

    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
    • a squeeze of lemon juice
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Recipe FAQ’s

    What is the best oil to fry fish?

    Vegetable oil is the best oil to use for deep frying at home. Some recommend canola oil but I still have my doubts about the health risks involved with canola. Peanut oil has always been a favorite for frying but if you’re cooking for anyone with a peanut allergy that can pose a problem. Avocado oil is also a good alternative.

    Why is my fried fish greasy?

    The reason that fried foods look greasy or oily is due to the fact that the oil was not hot enough to properly fry the food. Oil temperatures need to be a minimum of 325 degrees to fry food. The problem with starting at 325 degrees is as soon as you add food to the oil, the temperature drops. That’s why I always suggest the fryer be at 350 degrees to start.

    Can I make fried flounder in an air fryer?

    You certainly can. Using an oil mister spray the breaded flounder with a generous amount of your favorite cooking oil for the air fryer.
    Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F, on the air fryer setting. Using your air fryer basket, cook the breaded flounder for 5 minutes, then carefully flip the flounder, respray with cooking oil and continue cooking for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown.

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    fried flounder filets on a white plate with lemon circles
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    5 from 44 votes

    Easy Fried Flounder Recipe

    Crispy golden brown fried flounder is a restaurant-quality dish that the whole family will love. Lightly breaded with seasoned panko bread crumbs and quick fried, the sweet, flaky filet of flounder will almost melt in your mouth.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time7 mins
    Total Time17 mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 419kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz flounder fillets
    • 1 ½ cup panko bread crumbs
    • ½ tsp sea salt
    • ⅛ tsp black pepper
    • ½ tsp sweet paprika
    • 1 tbsp grated Romano cheese
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup cold water or milk
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    Instructions

    • Dip the flounder fillets in the egg wash (beaten eggs with water or milk) and allow them to drain the excess egg wash off for a few seconds.
    • Dredge the flounder in the seasoned bread crumbs, completely coating the fillets.
    • Heat a deep frying pan with enough oil to cover the flounder while its cooking. About an inch depth of oil should be enough. Too little oil and the fish will stick ot the pan. It should be able to float as it cooks.
      Gently press the flounder down to get the top of the fish cooked properly. If you are able to turn the flounder without breaking it, go for it. But remember the flounder is a very delicate fish.
    • When the flounder is floating (about 6-8 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets) it should be fully cooked.
    • Allow the flounder to drain on paper towels briefly, then serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 291mg | Sodium: 1196mg | Potassium: 535mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 602IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. jennifer

      February 28, 2023 at 5:53 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe and so easy to follow. First time I have cooked flounder and it came out perfectly. Will add a touch more seasoning because I’m from the South and we just need to! The flounder meat was very light and had very little fishy taste to it. If you don’t eyeball your cooking time, it wouldn’t take much to overcook. 8-9 minutes just as Chef calls for in recipe!! Thanks Chef Dennis🙌

      Reply
    2. mary_p

      February 11, 2023 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      Very good recipe. I used to coat the fish in flour first, then egg, then breadcrumbs. This is simpler, and tastier.

      Reply
    3. Mary W.

      July 15, 2022 at 9:32 am

      Can this be cooked in a deep fryer?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        July 15, 2022 at 9:32 am

        absolutely, it will come out the best in a deep fryer

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      June 23, 2022 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      This was better than my favorite seafood restaurant and a lot less expensive! thanks for sharing the recipe.

      Reply

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