Description
Lemon Butter Fish Bites with Garlic Aioli are crispy, tender pieces of fresh white fish coated in a flavorful seasoned flour, pan-fried in a luscious lemon butter sauce, and served with a zesty garlic aioli for dipping. This quick and easy appetizer or snack combines buttery richness with bright citrus notes for a deliciously satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish Bites
- 1 lb Fresh white fish fillets (such as cod, tilapia, or haddock)
- 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/4 cup Unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
- 1 unit Lemon zest
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Garlic Aioli
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic aioli: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well until smooth. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the fish bites to let the flavors meld.
- Cut the fish: Cut the fresh white fish fillets into bite-sized pieces, ensuring they are evenly sized for consistent cooking.
- Make the flour coating: In a shallow dish, mix together the all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, and paprika to create a seasoned dredging mixture.
- Dredge the fish pieces: Coat each piece of fish in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess to avoid clumping or uneven cooking.
- Melt butter and add lemon: In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, combining to create a fragrant lemon butter sauce.
- Cook the fish bites: Place the floured fish pieces in a single layer in the skillet. Cook each side for about 3-4 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through, ensuring the fish remains tender inside.
- Drain excess butter: Remove the cooked fish bites from the skillet and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess butter and keep them from becoming greasy.
- Serve and garnish: Arrange the lemon butter fish bites on a serving platter, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor, and serve alongside the chilled garlic aioli for dipping.
Notes
- Use firm white fish like cod, haddock, or tilapia for best results.
- Adjust seasoning in the flour mixture according to taste.
- Make sure the skillet is hot enough before adding fish to get a nice golden crust.
- Serve immediately for the freshest texture, but the garlic aioli can be prepared ahead of time.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour or cornstarch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: lemon butter fish bites, garlic aioli, pan-fried fish, appetizer, seafood bites, quick fish recipe, easy fish appetizer
