Pan-fried Breaded Fish, Saeng-seon-jeon

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healthy

kid friendly

nut free

pescetarian

prep time:

10 min

inactive time:

0 min

cooking time:

20 min

total time:

30 min

Saeng-seon-jeon is a quick and easy to turn boring fish into a gourmet dish. Traditionally saeng-seon-jeon was enjoyed during special holidays like seol-nal (new year’s day) or chu-seok (korean thanks giving) along with other savory Korean pancakes, and breaded and pan-fried vegetables.

Sae-seon-joen can be served as a main dish or a side dish along with rice, soup and other banchan (korean side dish). It’s not too heavy so it can be served for breakfast too. You can also turn this into Hors d'oeuvres for your party or eat as a snack full of protein.

If you want to give a creative twist, add your favorite herbs in the egg mix or sprinkle it on top.

Once cooked this dish should keep in the fridge for a day or two but it can get fishy if you don’t eat it right away.

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If you want to give a creative twist, add your favorite herbs in the egg mix or sprinkle it on top.

Once cooked this dish should keep in the fridge for a day or two but it can get fishy if you don’t eat it right away.

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INGREDIENTS

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1 lb 2 oz	Cod 대구 (any white fish such as haddock, sole, cod is ok)
1½ cups	Flour 밀가루 (use buchimgaru for extra crispiness and flavor. use rice flour for a gluten free version)
2	Egg 계란
2 tbs	Salt 소금
2 tsp	Black Pepper 후추
6 tbs	Vegetable Oil 식용유
for dipping sauce
2 tbs	Soy Sauce (regular) 왜간장
2 tbs	Vinegar 식초
2 tbs	Water 물
2 tsp	Sesame Oil 참기름 (optional)
1 tsp	Garlic (minced) 다진 마늘 (optional)
1	Green Onion 파 (optional)
2	Green Chili Pepper 풋고추 (optional)

tips:

Optional Ingredients and Substitutions
Dipping sauce is optional. If you are not using dipping sauce make sure your fish and egg mix is well seasoned.
Also, you can make a simple dipping sauce with just soy sauce, vinegar and water.

Traditionally white fish is used for this dish but you can use this recipe for any type of fish.

Good to Know
If you pan-fry on high heat with more oil, it will be crispier. To make it crispy, make sure the pan and the oil is pretty hot.
If fish is thick, use high heat to quickly brown the surfaces and lower the heat to cook the fish through.

If you want softer texture, cook on low heat with less oil.

More questions? Please leave your questions below in the comment section. We will do our best to answer as soon as we can.

instructions	photos	summary
Ingredient amounts in the recipe instructions are for the default serving size.	Click to enlarge photos.	Ingredient amounts in the recipe summary are for the default serving size.
1. Thaw fish If frozen fish is used, thaw the fish in room temperature water or in the fridge overnight. Make sure the fish is completely thawed. Otherwise, water will come out of fish as it is being cooked and the breading will come off.		1 Thaw fish
2. Wash & Pat dry Gently rinse the fish under running water. Dry it with a kitchen towel.		2 Rinse with water Pat dry
3. Cut Cut fish into large bite sized pieces. You can cut it bigger if you like.		3 Cut into bite sizes
4. Prep Mince 1 clove of garlic. Chop ½ green onion. Slice 1 chili peppers. These are for the dipping sauces. You can skip them if you don’t have them.		4 Mince 1 garlic clove Chop ½ green onion Slice 1 green chili peppers
5. Season Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the fish.		5 Season fish salt pepper
6. Dredge in flour Lightly dredge the fish pieces in flour or buchimgaru (Korean pancake mix). You can use rice flour for a gluten free version.		6 Dredge in flour or buchimgaru
7. Make egg mix Beat an egg with ⅛ tsp of salt.		7 Beat an egg with ⅛ tsp salt
8. Coat with egg Coat the flour covered fish pieces with eggs by dipping them in the egg mix. Flip the fish in the egg mix so all sides are coated.		8 Coat fish with egg
9. Preheat pan Coat a nonstick pan with vegetable oil and preheat for 1 minute on high heat.		9 Coat pan with vegetable oil preheat High Heat 1 min
10. Panfry Add fish pieces. Cook until the bottom is light golden brown. If you pan-fry on high heat, it will be crispier. If you want softer texture, cook on low heat. If fish is thick, use high heat to quickly brown the surfaces and lower the heat to cook the fish through.		10 Add fish Cook until light golden brown
11. Flip Flip the fish. Cook until the other side is golden color.		11 Flip Cook until golden. High Heat
12. Drain oil Transfer them onto paper towel or a flat strainer to drain oil.		12 Place on paper towel.
13. Dipping sauce Mix 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of water, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, ½ teaspoon of minced garlic. Add sliced chili peppers and chopped green onions. You can add ground sesame seeds if you want a more nutty flavor.		13 Mix 1 tbs soy sauce 1 tbs water 1 tbs vinegar 1 tsp sesame oil ½ tsp minced garlic Add sliced chili peppers chopped green onions
14. Serve Arrange the fish on a plate. Serve it with a dipping sauce on the side.		14 Serve