Batter-Fried Rockfish for two is a simple, yet delicious dish! Fresh rockfish fillets are coated with beer batter, then cooked until crispy!
Batter-Fried Rockfish for two is a simple, yet delicious dish! Fresh rockfish fillets are coated with beer batter, then cooked until crispy!

Over the past several years, my husband and I have tried to eat more seafood, especially when we can find it on sale! Today I want to share a simple recipe for batter-fried rockfish.

I try to keep this mild-flavored fish in our freezer, because it is so versatile and can be grilled, fried, baked, used in chowders and it even makes great fish tacos!

My Inspiration For This Recipe

Our family was very fortunate to be able to cruise the British Isles last summer, and my husband and I loved sampling the beer-battered fish we found everywhere in England, Scotland and Ireland! The photos below were from meals we enjoyed in England and Scotland.

The fish and chips there are typically made using cod or haddock and they taste amazing, so I thought “why not try to make it using rockfish?”

I’ve previously posted a recipe for beer battered fish and chips and really liked the batter used. Because I really wanted to make a seafood recipe using rockfish, I tried it, and guess what? Rockfish fillets are wonderful prepared in this way (beer-battered and fried), as well! 

Fish and Chips (with mushy peas) for my hubby our first night in London.A piece of beer-battered fish I had in Scotland (chips/fries on the side).

Okay… But What Is Rockfish?

Rockfish is also known as red snapper, striped bass, or Rock Cod throughout North America. It is a mild-flavored fish typically found in the Pacific Ocean off the northern coast.

Rockfish is also a great source of lean protein, because a serving of 5 ounces provides almost 2/3 of the daily protein requirements for adults. It’s also very low calorie, which is awesome!

Over the years I’ve cooked rockfish many different ways, and we have enjoyed them all. Here’s how to make THIS recipe for batter-fried rockfish.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Rockfish

This recipe is tailored to create two servings of batter-fried rockfish. You will need two rockfish fillets (no skin), about 5 ounces each.

Pat the pieces of rockfish dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Set aside.

Two rockfish fillets are patted dry using paper towels.

Make The Batter For The Fish

In a medium sized bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, milk, beer (or club soda) and olive oil together until combined and lump-free. This batter will be the consistency of slightly thinned yogurt. Set aside.

A wet, thin batter is combined to help coat the fish fillets.

Combine flour, salt and pepper together on a large dinner plate. These dry ingredients will be used as part of the battering process. Place the plate on the kitchen counter, then put the wet batter mixture right next to it.

You need the plate and bowl close together, because you will be dipping fish fillets in each one, and don’t want to “drip” all over the kitchen!

Flour, salt and pepper will coat the fish fillets before battering them.

Time To Batter The Rockfish

Dip the fish fillets, one at a time into the flour mixture on the plate. Turn to coat all sides with the seasoned flour, then shake off any excess flour.

Place the fish on a piece of wax paper or baking sheet, and then repeat the process with the other fillet.

A rockfish fillet is coated in a seasoned flour mixture on all sides.Flour-coated fish fillets rest on baking sheet before battering.

Now dip each piece of floured fish in the wet batter, one at a time and turn, to fully coat the fish with the wet batter. Let any of the excess liquid drip back into the bowl.

Immediately roll this piece of fish back in the flour mixture, and set back on the baking sheet (or wax paper). Repeat this with the other fillet. Once they have been coated with flour/wet batter/flour, they’re ready to be fried.

A flour-coated rockfish fillet is covered with a wet beer batter on all sides.

Fry The Battered Rockfish

Heat oil (about an inch deep) in an electric skillet or large skillet on Medium-High heat until it is very hot (but not smoking!).

Check the temp with a digital food thermometer if you have one. The oil temperature should be right at 350°F. for best frying temperature.

Place each of the batter-coated fillets into the hot oil. The oil should bubble and sizzle when you add them. Be very careful when adding the fish to the oil, because it is very HOT!

TIP: If you are making a larger quantity, be sure to not overcrowd the fillets in the skillet. You may need to cook the fish in batches for the best results.

The fillets fry in hot oil until browned on the bottom and then flipped over.

Cook the fish without disturbing them for 4 minutes, and then carefully turn the rockfish over to the other side.

Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes, or until fully cooked through. NOTE: The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the fish fillets you are using.

When done, the fish should be cooked all the way through and be golden brown and crispy on both sides.

Both sides of the rockfish cook until golden brown and crispy.When done, the batter-fried rockfish is nicely browned on all sides.

Drain And Serve The Batter-Fried Rockfish

Transfer the batter-fried rockfish to paper towels, to help absorb any excess oil remaining on the outside of the fish.

Serve the batter-fried rockfish immediately with your favorite side dishes and enjoy this crispy dish. Add a slice of lemon to each piece of fish, to squeeze the juice on top, if desired!

The fish can also be served with tartar sauce and/or malt vinegar on the side, for added flavor, to suit your taste. Enjoy!

Two batter-fried rockfish fillets drain on paper towels after cooking.A piece of batter-fried rockfish, served with rice and mixed vegetables.

I hope you enjoy this meal for two, and trust you’ll enjoy the batter-fried rockfish as much as we do! In reality, it’s such a simple recipe, but it is really quite delicious.

Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more delicious recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More ROCKFISH Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a great variety of delicious rockfish recipes for you to choose from, including:

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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Batter-Fried Rockfish
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

Batter-Fried Rockfish for two is a simple, yet delicious dish! Fresh rockfish fillets are coated with beer batter, then cooked until crispy!

Category: Main Dish, Seafood
Cuisine: American
Keyword: batter-fried rockfish
Servings: 2
Calories Per Serving: 382 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 10 ounces rockfish fillets = 2 fillets, about 5 oz. each
For Dry Ingredients:
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
For Wet Batter:
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 Tablespoons beer (can substitute club soda)
  • Tablespoons low-fat milk (1%)
  • ¼ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
  • vegetable oil for frying about 1" deep in skillet
Instructions
  1. Pat rockfish fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Set aside.

  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, milk, beer (or club soda), olive oil in medium bowl until combined/lump-free. Batter will be consistency of thin yogurt. Set aside.

  3. Combine then spread flour, salt and pepper on large dinner plate. Set plate on kitchen counter, with bowl of wet batter mixture next to it.

  4. Dip fish fillets (1 at a time) into the flour mixture on plate. Turn to coat all sides. Place fish on wax paper or baking sheet; repeat with other fillet.

  5. Dip floured fillets in wet batter in bowl (1 at a time). Turn to fully coat all sides. Let any excess batter drip back into the bowl. Immediately roll battered fillet back in flour mixture then put back on baking sheet (or wax paper). Repeat with other fillet. Once coated with flour/wet batter/flour, they're ready to be fried.

  6. Heat oil (1" deep) in an electric skillet (350℉) or a large skillet on Medium-High until very hot (but not smoking). Check oil temp with food thermometer. Oil temp. should be 350°F. for best frying conditions. Place batter-coated fillets into hot oil. Oil should bubble/sizzle when fish is added (it's HOT!).

  7. Cook fish (without disturbing) for 4 minutes; carefully flip fillet to the other side. Continue cooking another 3-4 minutes, or until fully cooked through. NOTE: Cooking time may vary slightly depending on thickness of fillets you use. When done, fish should be cooked all the way through and golden brown on all sides.

  8. Drain fish on paper towels, then serve immediately with lemon slices, tartar sauce and/or malt vinegar on the side, if desired. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: The oil used to fry the fish in is not calculated in the caloric calculation, because the amount used may vary depending on the size skillet used.

Nutrition Facts
Batter-Fried Rockfish
Amount Per Serving (1 five oz. fillet)
Calories 382 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 0.03g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 700mg30%
Potassium 820mg23%
Carbohydrates 51g17%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 75IU2%
Calcium 131mg13%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Batter-Fried Rockfish for two is a simple, yet delicious dish! Fresh rockfish fillets are coated with beer batter, then cooked until crispy!

 

Batter-Fried RockfishBatter-Fried Rockfish

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