Pla Rad Prik Crispy Fish with Chili Sauce

Name: Pla Rad Prik Crispy Fish with Chili Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 2 lbs whole tilapia or sea bass (cleaned and scaled), scored diagonally 3x per side; 2 cups neutral oil (for frying); 1/3 cup cornstarch; 6 fresh Thai bird chilies (or Fresno chilies), thinly sliced; 6 garlic cloves, minced; 3 tbsp fish sauce; 2 tbsp oyster sauce; 2 tbsp fresh lime juice; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 2 tbsp neutral oil (for sauce); 4 tbsp water; 1 tsp salt; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

A Thai restaurant staple of whole crispy-fried fish drenched in a fiery sweet-sour chili sauce made from Thai chilies, garlic, and fish sauce. Spectacular and surprisingly simple to make at home.

45 minMediumServes 4480 cal/serving

ThaiDinnerStovetopPescatarianLow CarbHalal-friendlyDairy-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-Free

Ingredients

2 lbs whole tilapia or sea bass (cleaned and scaled), scored diagonally 3x per side
2 cups neutral oil (for frying)
1/3 cup cornstarch
6 fresh Thai bird chilies (or Fresno chilies), thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp neutral oil (for sauce)
4 tbsp water
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

Instructions

1

Pat 2 lbs scored diagonally 3x per side whole tilapia or sea bass (cleaned and scaled) thoroughly dry inside and out. Season with 1 tsp salt. Dust generously with 1/3 cup cornstarch, pressing into scored cuts.
2

Heat 2 cups neutral oil (for frying) in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat to 350°F. Carefully lower fish into the oil and fry undisturbed for 6-8 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Check that fish reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) at the thickest part. Drain on a wire rack.
3

While the fish fries, heat 2 tbsp neutral oil (for sauce) in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 6 minced garlic cloves and 6 thinly sliced fresh Thai bird chilies (or Fresno chilies) and stir-fry 1-2 minutes until softened.
4

Add 3 tbsp fish sauce, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, and 4 tbsp water. Simmer 2 minutes until syrupy.
5

Transfer crispy fish to a platter. Pour hot chili sauce over the top and garnish with 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately.

Questions

Can I make Pla Rad Prik Crispy Fish with Chili Sauce gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 tbsp oyster sauce. Swap the soy-based sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Pla Rad Prik Crispy Fish with Chili Sauce keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within two days (seafood turns fast). Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it. It also freezes well for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Pla Rad Prik Crispy Fish with Chili Sauce?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,504 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.