Introduction
Walk through almost any Chinese night market and you'll smell it before you see it. Garlic frying. Spring onions sizzling. Chillies crackling. Salt and pepper seasoning hitting hot oil. Then somebody walks past carrying a tray of crispy fish and suddenly you're hungry again, whether you planned to be or not. These cod bites deliver exactly that. Crisp golden coating, flaky fish, plenty of garlic, chilli, and spring onion, with that addictive salt-and-pepper finish that somehow makes one piece turn into ten.
You’ll Need
500g cod fillets, cut into bite-sized chunks
80g cornflour
40g plain flour
1 tsp Chinese five spice
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp white pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten
Oil spray
For the Salt & Pepper Toss
1 red chilli, finely sliced
3 spring onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp white pepper
½ tsp chilli flakes
Optional but Dangerous
Steamed rice
Sweet chilli sauce
Curry sauce
Extra chillies
Method
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
Pat the cod pieces completely dry using kitchen paper.
In a bowl mix together the cornflour, plain flour, Chinese five spice, salt, white pepper, and garlic powder.
Dip the cod pieces into the beaten egg.
Coat thoroughly in the flour mixture.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil.
Arrange the fish pieces in a single layer and spray the tops lightly with oil.
Air fry at 200°C for 10–12 minutes, shaking gently halfway through, until deeply golden and crisp.
While the fish cooks, mix together the chilli, spring onions, garlic, salt, white pepper, and chilli flakes.
As soon as the fish comes out of the fryer, tip it into a large bowl.
Add the salt and pepper mixture and toss thoroughly while still hot.
Serve immediately with rice or dipping sauce if using.