Easy Recipe for Deep-fried Red Tilapia with Chili Dressing

Recipe for deep-fried red tilapia with chili dressing is easy to prepare and tastes absolutely delicious. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.

Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant

I learned this recipe for deep-fried red tilapia with chili dressing at the Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. And it is delicious! The popular dish is known as Plaa Taab Tim Rad Prik in Thai.

To clarify, tilapia is is kind of fresh water fish inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes. Not only is it popular in Thailand. In addition, it is the fourth most popular fish in the United. In fact, it is inexpensive, it is easy to prepare, and it has a mild taste.

BTW, this recipe for deep-fried red tilapia with chili dressing calls for galangal, which appears to be similar to ginger, but don’t think that you can substitute one for the other. The taste is completely different.  If you can’t find fresh or even frozen galangal at the market, it’s better to leave it out.

It was one of four dishes that I learned how to make in a half-day culinary course in Royal Thai cookery at the popular cooking school.

The course included a trip to a nearby wet market to source ingredients and a gourmet lunch that the students prepared themselves in the class.

Recipe for Deep-fried Red Tilapia with Chili Dressing

For convenience, the ingredients for this recipe for deep-fried red tilapia with chili dressing can be divided into ingredients for the fish and ingredients for the paste.

Ingredients for Fish

• 1/2 cup rice flour
• 60 grams red Tilapia (deep fried)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon palm sugar
•  2 leave kaffir lime (torn)
• 4 tablespoons stock
• 10 leaves sweet basil
• 1 piece red Serrano chili

 

Ingredients for Paste

• 2 pieces dried red chilis (soaked)
• 3 pieces bird’s eye chilies
• 1/2 tablespoon lemongrass (finely sliced)
• 1 teaspoon galangal
• 1/2 teaspoon kaffir lime zest
• 1/4 teaspoon shrimp paste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 2 pieces shallots
• 2 cloves garlic

 

Method

1. Pound all ingredients  for the paste together into a paste in a mortar
2. Add paste into a wok on medium heat: stir-fry until an aroma develops
3. Add stock; season with fish sauce and palm sugar to taste
4. Add kaffir lime leaves, red Serrano chili, and sweet basil leaves
5. Coast fish with flour in a mixing bowl
6. Deep fry fish until it becomes golden brown; strain on paper towels
7. Transfer to a serving fish with sauce from the wok

Want to Know More?

• Click HERE for a detailed personal account of the course with LOTS of photos!

 

If You Are Visiting Thailand

Where

Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant – 233 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Bangkok, Thailand. Tel: (66) 2-673-9353-8.