Basa, an affordable fish with a mild, flaky texture similar to cod, can be turned into a dish that looks and tastes far more luxurious with a simple flour coating. The trick is to give inexpensive fillets plenty of flavour and a flour coating before cooking, transforming a simple piece of fish into a restaurant-quality dinner without the price tag.
A Budget-Friendly Alternative to Cod
Fish can be one of the most expensive proteins in a weekly shop, especially when choosing varieties like cod, salmon, or sea bass. However, budget-friendly options such as basa can be elevated with the right ingredients. This Tesco recipe uses cupboard staples to create a restaurant-style fish dish at a fraction of the cost.
Basa might not be the first fish that comes to mind when planning dinners, but its mild flavour makes it an ideal canvas for bold flavourings. It works perfectly with lime and chilli, and pan-frying helps turn the fillets golden and delicious.
Pan-Fried Basa Fillets With Garlic Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 350g baby potatoes, quartered
- One tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
- Half a tablespoon of rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
- Half a lime, zested and juiced
- One red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
- Two garlic cloves, crushed
- Three to four tablespoons of chopped coriander
- One and a half tablespoons of olive oil
- Three tablespoons of plain flour
- One 265g pack of skinless and boneless basa fillets
Method:
In a medium pan of salted water, boil the potatoes for 12 minutes, or until tender. While the potatoes are cooking, make the salsa. In a bowl, combine the extra-virgin olive oil, vinegar, lime zest and half the lime juice, then chilli, half the garlic, and the coriander. Season and add extra lime juice to taste, if desired.
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Season the flour and use it to coat the basa fillets, then add them to the frying pan. Fry for 30 seconds over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-high and fry for a further two minutes on each side, until golden and cooked through.
Why the Flour Coating Works
Coating basa fish in flour before pan-frying helps create a delicious, crisp coating and helps seasoning, such as salt and pepper, adhere to the delicate fish. Flour can also help make the fish taste slightly more savoury, which can make a mild fish like basa feel more like a traditional fried cod dish.
Drain the potatoes. Return to the pan, along with the remaining olive oil and garlic. Lightly crush with a potato masher or fork, then divide between two plates. Top with the fish and drizzle over the chilli and coriander salsa.
