Mild, flaky, and ready to cook straight out of the pack, Wild Alaska pollock quick cuts are practically begging to be pan-fried into crispy morsels of seafood: Fry them up as dippable nuggets, load them into tacos shells or pita rounds, or stir-fry them with a zesty sauce and a mix of veggies.
You can’t really go wrong when you’re pan-frying wild Alaska pollock, as long as you observe a few cardinal rules of frying: use a high-heat cooking fat, and get your skillet/fat hot before frying the fish.
When pan-frying any type of wild Alaskan fish, you will need to use a high-heat cooking oil — an oil with a high smoke point. Vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil are good options. You can also use ghee or clarified butter when you want a hint of buttery flavor, since they’ve been strained of milk solids that cause regular butter to burn and become bitter.
For crispy bites, the wild Alaska pollock quick cuts will need to coated in an ingredient that enhances a crispy texture. Here are a few options to consider:
Cornstarch:
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Ideal for stir fries
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The crispiest coating
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Needs additional flavor
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Residual cornstarch in the wok/pan helps to thicken stir fry sauces
To use: Season fish with salt and pepper, then toss in cornstarch to coat.
Flour:
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Good to use as crispy protein in tacos/bowls/sandwiches, or on its own
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Crispy and browned
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Flour can be used on its own or seasoned with dried spices/herbs
To use: Season fish with salt and pepper. Add herbs/spices such as garlic powder, Old Bay, or Italian seasoning to flour if desired. Then toss fish in flour to coat.
Egg + flour:
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Good to use in tacos/bowls/sandwiches, or on its own
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Not quite as crispy, a little more chew
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Flour can be used on its own or seasoned with dried spices/herbs
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Fish retains more moisture for a juicier bite
To use: Dip fish in whisked egg, then dip in flour that has been seasoned with salt, pepper, and any herbs/spices you like.
Flour + egg + breadcrumbs:
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The heartiest coating, not quite as crispy
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Fish retains more moisture for a juicier bite
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Breadcrumbs can be seasoned with dried spices/herbs
To use: Season fish with salt and pepper. Toss in flour to coat, then dip in whisked egg. Coat with lightly seasoned breadcrumbs.
How to Use Crispy Wild Alaska Pollock Bites
Check out our blog post on wild Alaska pollock stir fry ideas for some weeknight meal inspiration. We also have some crispy ideas tucked into another post that explores wild Alaska pollock’s potential using a variety of cooking methods.
