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May 18, 2020

Crispy Air Fried Cod Fillets

These air-fried cod fillets, dredged in a panko, shallot, and herbs mixture, are super crunchy and crispy.

Crispy Air Fried Cod Fillets with salad





These air-fried cod filets are super moist on the inside and totally crunchy on the outside, all with a lot less calories than deep fried fish.

This air-fried cod recipe, along with a salad and a side, makes a delicious dinner for two.


Crunchy Air Fried Cod Fillets with salad and lemon slices





Air fryers have become the darling of infomercials over the last few years with all kinds of claims. In reality, an air fryer is not really a fryer. Instead, it's basically a really powerful convection oven that circulates air around food to cook and crisp it with far less fat.

Are they worth it? In my opinion, yes! You don't "need" one, but you will love it if you get one.

Air fryers are super easy to use and are pretty much hands off. They are also easy to clean, and they produce crispy and evenly cooked foods. Some of my favorite air fryer recipes include:


The only drawback to an air fryer is that you can't prepare food for a crowd due to the size of the basket. 

Air fried cod filets coated in panko on a plate






To make these cod fillets, you will need panko bread crumbs, vegetable oil, a minced shallot, a minced garlic clove, some thyme and parsley, along with an egg yolk, lemon zest, and mayonnaise, along with salt and pepper.


Ingredients for Crunchy Air Fried Cod Fillets






You actually "toast" the panko, shallot, and herb mixture in the microwave for about 2 minutes, until it turns a light golden brown before using it to coat the fish.

You brush the fish with a mixture of mayonnaise, and egg yolk, lemon zest, and pepper and then coat it with the toasted panko mixture.

Because fish is so delicate, you can't use tongs to remove it from the basket of the air fryer without it falling apart. To solve this problem, you make a foil sling to line the basket of your machine.

Air fryer basket lined with a foil sling





To do this, fold a sheet of aluminum foil to four inches wide and lay it across the basket. There should be enough of the foil reaching up the sides so that you can grab it to remove the finished fish.

I have tested two air fryers. My first air fryer was the Avalon Bay Air Fryer, which is super easy to use and very reasonably priced (affiliate link).

I've since purchased the Philips Turbostar Air Fryer, Avance Digital. It's super easy to use, and doesn't require preheating. It's also super easy to clean, and has some fun accessories.


Crispy air fryer cod





This cod was sooooo delicious and made a wonderful dinner for two! It will be on regular rotation in our house.

You can serve this with your favorite tartar sauce or chipotle or Sriracha aioli sauce. We loved it with just a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice.


Welcome to Multi-cooker Monday!


We share recipes made in some of our favorite kitchen electrics, especially the pressure cooker, slow cooker, and air fryer. Check out everyone's recipes.


Crunchy air-fried cod fillets






Crispy Air Fried Cod Fillets


Crispy Air Fried Cod Fillets
Yield: 2 servings
Author:
Prep time: 15 MCook time: 15 MTotal time: 30 M
These air-fried cod fillets, dredged in a panko, shallot, and herbs mixture, are super crunchy and crispy.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 (8 ounce) cod fillets, 1 1/4 inches thick
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

  1. Set up your air fryer with a foil sling (see post). Spray the foil and air fryer basket with spray oil. 
  2. In a small bowl, toss the panko with the vegetable oil. Add the shallot, garlic, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper and stir to combine. 
  3. Microwave the panko mixture in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, for about 2 minutes, until the panko turns a light brown. 
  4. Stir in the parsley and transfer the panko mixture to a plate. 
  5. In another small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, egg yolk, lemon zest, and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper. 
  6. Dry the cod fillets with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush the tops of the fillets with the mayonnaise mixture and then dredge the mayonnaise brushed side of the fillets in the panko mixture. press the panko mixture gently into the cod. 
  7. Place the cod fillets, panko crusted side up, onto the foil sling (perpendicular) next to each other. 
  8. Place the basket into the air fryer and bake at 300 degrees F 12 to 16 minutes, using the foil sling to rotate the filets half way through. The fish should reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. 
  9. Using the sling, remove the fish from the basket and serve the fish with lemon wedges. 
Calories
423.48
Fat (grams)
14.77
Sat. Fat (grams)
3.10
Carbs (grams)
22.61
Fiber (grams)
3.13
Net carbs
19.48
Sugar (grams)
4.32
Protein (grams)
49.32
Sodium (milligrams)
506.84
Cholesterol (grams)
287.12
seafood, air fryer
Seafood, main dish
American
Did you make this recipe?
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Created using The Recipes Generator


This recipe was adapted from Air Fryer Perfection by America's Test Kitchen

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Would you like to comment?

  1. Karen, do you feel that the stand alone air fryers work better than the air fry setting on the Breyville? Your fish turned out lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been lusting after that Breville but I have a perfectly healthy one right now and can't figure out how to sneak a new one by my husband. The only thing missing from mine is the air fry feature!

      Delete
  2. I keep seeing all these great recipes for an air fryer and now I really want one. I'm looking at a toaster oven with air fry capabilities. It may end up in my shopping cart sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would definitely go in that direction if I needed a toaster oven!

      Delete
  3. Your fish looks fabulous, Karen! That crunchy topping is right up my alley.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love that crunchy and healthy air fried fish Karen!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yummm those look so perfectly crispy!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Karen,
    This will be my first time trying to use a foil sling. I'm assuming that the cod pieces must fit completely on the foil, to avoid edges flaking off, correct> When you say rotate the fish halfway through, do you mean 180 degrees? Or 90 degrees?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It should be 4 inches wide. The cod pieces can be larger than the foil. You can rotate it either 90 or 180 degrees. Either will work =)

      Delete
  7. How does the air circulate properly around the food when there’s tinfoil in the way?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's just a sling that is under the fish. It doesn't line the whole bottom.

      Delete

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