Pacific whiting is a mildly flavored, affordable white fish with a tender and flaky texture. Often overlooked, this sustainable seafood is delicious when cooked properly and takes well to a variety of cooking methods. In this article, I will instruct how to cook Pacific whiting properly for moist, tender whiting fish any night of the week.
1. How To Cook Pacific Whiting on Stove
Ingredients
- 1 pound whiting fillets (fresh or thawed)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or cornmeal for a gluten-free option)
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Fillets
Pat the whiting fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps achieve a crispy texture. Next, season both sides of the fillets with salt, pepper, and paprika (if using).
Dredge in Flour
Place the flour in a shallow dish. Dredge each fillet in the flour, shaking off any excess. This will create a nice crust when frying.
Heat the Oil
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil or butter over medium-high heat. Make sure the oil is hot but not smoking.
Fry the Fillets
Carefully place the dredged whiting fillets in the skillet in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding; you may need to cook in batches.
Fry for about 3-4 minutes on one side until golden brown and crispy. Gently flip the fillets and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes on the other side until cooked through and flaky.
Drain and Serve
Once cooked, transfer the fillets to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
2. How To Cook Pacific Whiting in Oven
Ingredients
- 6 whiting fillets (fresh or thawed)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes (dried)
- Lemon wedges (for serving, optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. This will make cleanup easier and prevent the fillets from sticking.
Rinse the whiting fillets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. This helps to ensure they bake properly and don’t steam.
In a small bowl, mix together the seasoning salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and parsley flakes.
Next, drizzle the olive oil over the fillets, coating them evenly. Then sprinkle the seasoning mixture over both sides of the fillets, ensuring they are well-coated.
Place the seasoned whiting fillets in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes.
The fillets are done when they are opaque and flake easily with a fork. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the fillets.
Once cooked, remove the fillets from the oven and let them rest for a minute. You can garnish with additional parsley if desired.
Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the fillets
3. How To Cook Pacific Whiting in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 whiting fillets (fresh or thawed)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour or cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
Rinse the whiting fillets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. This helps the coating stick better.
In a small bowl, mix the seasoning salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika. Next, drizzle olive oil over the fillets and rub it in to coat evenly. Then sprinkle the seasoning mixture over both sides of the fillets, ensuring they are well-coated.
Place the all-purpose flour or cornmeal in a shallow dish. Dredge each fillet in the flour or cornmeal, shaking off any excess. This will create a nice crispy coating when cooked.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
Arrange the coated whiting fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry the fillets at 400°F (200°C) for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Once cooked, remove the fillets from the air fryer and let them rest for a minute. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or lemon wedges for added flavor.
Pacific whiting fish is an affordable fish but has great flavor and nutrition in it. Following these simple methods for pan-frying, oven baking, or air frying whiting fillets results in tender, flaky texture with delicious flavor every time.
