Easy Fried Mullets recipe

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4.67 out of 5 Stars by 6 readers!

Quick to cook and requiring just a handful of ingredients, this fried fish recipe is a good option for any meal. With a nutty oily taste, mullets have a strong flavour, and go well with Dal and Rice or Chapati!


Mullets are fish that are found all over the world in coastal, tropical, and also freshwaters. There are about 78 species in all!

We usually get the Grey Mullets (called grey, but looks silver) here in Mumbai, but you also have white, red, black, and striped mullets across the world. Mullets are known by other names in the different local languages here in India, like Thirutha in the South or Bhangor in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

With its small bones and soft flesh, this fish is quite tasty, but not everyone likes the strong flavor.

Mom and Dad are the fish buyers in our house. It’s not as easy as it looks, with those fisherfolk calling out to you from every corner. Having accompanied Mom on several occasions to buy fish, I’d definitely say that buying fish is a skill and so is cooking it!

Fisherwomen in the bazaar selling fish.
Fisherwomen in the bazaar

With a variety of options to cook fish – like boiled, baked, curry, chilly fry, or fried – how do you know which to make? Sometimes mom makes a chilly fry similar to her bangda or mackeral chilly fry.

Anyways, for mullets, here’s an easy fried fish recipe to use. Keep reading…

What ingredients do you need to fry Mullets

Firstly, you require the Mullets of course. Then the spices like Haldi aka turmeric, salt, and chili powder. Plus, a little vinegar, and a bit of rice atta (rice flour) for coating and oil for frying.

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How to fry mullets

Wash the fish and clean them. Remove the fins and tails and extra unwanted parts from the stomach (if this has not already been done). Here in India, we eat the heads too, but you can remove these if you want to. I’m not too fond of eating the fish heads, but you should see my mom and sis clean the heads to perfection!

Grey mullets on a black platform.
Grey mullets

Put the fish in a bowl and sprinkle with salt, turmeric, and chilli powder.

Next add a little vinegar. If you do not have vinegar, you can use sour lime juice. Allow the fish to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes. This is optional.

Marinate the mullets in Masala.
Marinate the mullets

Just before frying, coat the fish with some rice flour (chawal atta) and fry for 5 minutes on high flame.

Mullets placed in a frying pan.
Place the mullets in the frying pan
Mullets frying in a frying pan.
Fry Mullets on one side for a while

Turn them over to the other side to be heated for a few minutes and the fish is ready to be served.

Fried mullets in a frying pan.
Turn the mullets on the other side
Fried mullets on a plate.
Fried Mullets in a plate

Sprinkle with some lemon and enjoy this tasty oily fried fish. We usually eat mullets with moong dal or masoor dal and rice or chapatis.

Three fried mullets on a black plate next to sourlimes and tomatoes.
Fried Mullets
Fried Mullets served with lime, coriander and tomatoes.
Fried Mullets served with lime, coriander, and tomatoes
Three Mullets on a black plate next to sourlimes and tomatoes.

Fried Mullets

Sarah
Quick to cook and needs just a handful of ingredients, fried mullets go well with dal and rice for lunch or dinner.
4.67 out of 5 Stars by 6 readers!

Click the stars to add your rating! Left you don’t like it, right you love it!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 6 Pieces
Calories 183 kcal
Dairy free icon on Abbysplate website.
Gluten free icon on Abbysplate website.
No added sugar icon on Abbysplate website.
Seafood icon on Abbysplate website.

Ingredients
  

  • 6 Mullets Cleaned.
  • .75 teaspoon New Harvest Turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
  • .5 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Tablespoon Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Rice Flour

Instructions
 

  • Wash the fish and clean them. Remove the fins, scales, tails, and extra unwanted parts from the head and stomach. (Skip this step if you buy pre-cleaned fish.)
  • Put the fish in a bowl and sprinkle with turmeric, salt, and chili powder.
  • Add a little vinegar and allow them to marinate for a while. (If you don't have vinegar use 3 tbsp of sour lime or lemon juice.)
  • Before frying, coat the fish with some rice flour(atta) and fry for 5 minutes on high flame.
  • Turn the mullets over for and fry for a few minutes. And the fried mullets are ready!

Please click to rate the recipe! Left you don’t like it, right you love it!

Notes

  • You can replace the vinegar with lemon or sour lime juice. For every spoon of vinegar use 1.5 spoons of sour lime or lemon juice. 
  • Serve the mullets with moong dal or masoor dal and rice or chapatis.
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Stuff You Might Want to Use

6 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Non stick Frying Pan
Fish Spatula

Nutrition (Per Serving)

Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 549mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Nutrition Information per serving is estimated by a third party software based on the ingredients used, and is for informational purposes only. It will vary from product to product, based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients. Please consult the package labels of the ingredients you use, or chat with your dietician for specific details.

This printable recipe card is for home use only. For more recipes head over to AbbysPlate.com

Questions About Frying Mullets

How Long Can You Store Fried Mullets?

In the freezer, the fried fish can be stored for a few months. In the refrigerator, for a few days in an air-tight container.

Is Mullet A Good Fish To Eat?

Yes, mullets are a good fish to eat, though they are an acquired taste. They have small bones and soft tasty flesh.

What Do Mullets Taste Like?

Mullets are an oily fish and have a strong flavour. The mullet roe is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world.

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Pinterest image of 3 fried mullets in a black tray with tomatoes and coriander.
Pinterest image of fried mullets on a black tray..

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