Golden Crispy perfection! The Ultimate Grilled Hairtail Recipe
Crispy Outside, Tender Inside! The Ultimate Hairtail Grilling Method (Never Falls Apart!)
Hairtail is always a delicious and welcome dish, no matter how it’s prepared! While often enjoyed braised, today we’re taking a bold step and pan-frying it to crispy perfection. I used to worry about it falling apart when braising, but now I’m confident in achieving a beautiful grilled result. Let’s grill it deliciously!
Ingredients
- 4 pieces of hairtail
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
- Plenty of cooking oil
- Plenty of potato starch
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Trim the fins from the hairtail. Sprinkle about 1 Tbsp of coarse sea salt evenly over the fish. For best flavor, you can salt it a day in advance to allow it to penetrate the flesh.
Step 2
Rinse the inside of the hairtail thoroughly to remove any remaining guts. Senegal hairtail doesn’t have scales that peel off easily, so focus on a good rinse rather than trying to remove them. The flesh is wonderfully firm and fresh!
Step 3
Spread a generous amount of potato starch onto a tray or plate. Place the prepared hairtail on top and coat one side evenly with the starch.
Step 4
Flip the hairtail and coat the other side thoroughly with potato starch as well. This coating is crucial for achieving a crispy exterior.
Step 5
Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Ensure the pan is sufficiently hot to prevent the fish from sticking and to achieve a crispy texture.
Step 6
Before placing the starch-coated hairtail into the hot pan, gently tap its surface with slightly damp hands. The goal is to create a thin, even coating of starch that adheres well, making it look almost ‘frozen’ but is actually the result of it being refrigerated for two days. This starch coating helps it crisp up beautifully.
Step 7
Carefully place the starch-coated hairtail into the heated pan. Let it cook for about 3-4 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown. Maintain medium heat throughout.
Step 8
Gently flip the hairtail to the other side and cook for another 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Ensure even cooking.
Step 9
Flip the hairtail one more time, cooking until both sides are a beautiful, appetizing brown color. If you dislike the appearance of the starchy fins, you can easily remove them now as the fish is cooked and they will come off cleanly.
Step 10
Arrange the perfectly grilled hairtail on a serving plate. Enjoy this delicious dish while it’s hot!
