Fried tilapia with sweet & sour sauce and vegetables—crispy fish, glossy sauce, and a colorful veggie mix.
🐟🍅 Fried Tilapia with Sweet & Sour Vegetables
🛒 Ingredients
Fish:
- 2 whole tilapia or fillets Tilapia
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp cornflour or all-purpose flour
- Oil for frying
Sweet & sour sauce:
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 2–3 tbsp sugar or honey
- 1 tbsp cornflour + 3 tbsp water (slurry to thicken)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
Vegetables:
- 1 onion (sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (any color)
- 1 carrot (julienned or thin slices)
- Optional: pineapple chunks, green beans
🔥 Step 1: Fry the Fish
- Clean and pat dry the tilapia.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Lightly coat with cornflour.
- Heat oil and fry until golden and crispy (about 4–6 minutes per side).
- Remove and set aside.
🍯 Step 2: Make Sweet & Sour Sauce
- In a pan, sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar.
- Stir and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add cornflour slurry and cook until sauce thickens and turns glossy.
🥕 Step 3: Cook the Vegetables
- Add onions, carrots, and bell peppers into the sauce.
- Stir-fry for 2–4 minutes (keep them slightly crunchy).
- Add pineapple if using for extra sweetness.
🍽️ Step 4: Combine
- Gently place the fried tilapia into the sauce.
- Spoon sauce over the fish so it’s fully coated.
- Let it simmer for 1–2 minutes to absorb flavor.
😋 Result
You’ll get:
- Crispy golden fish underneath
- Tangy, sweet, and slightly sticky sauce
- Fresh crunchy vegetables for balance
If you want, I can also make:
- A Chinese restaurant-style version (extra glossy sauce)
- A healthier baked tilapia version
- Or a spicy sweet & sour twist 🌶️
