Fried Red Tilapia with Five-Colour Vegetables

Method

1. 1 Score both sides of the fish diagonally down to the bone, then marinate with salt and pepper for 20 minutes and pat dry.
2. 2 Coat the grooves with cornstarch so that when fried, the grooves open up and become crispy on the inside.
3. 3 Fry the fish in oil at 180 degrees for 6 minutes on each side, turning it only once to prevent it from breaking apart.
4. 4 Sauté the carrots, bell peppers, peas, and sweet corn for 3 minutes until they are still crisp and have five distinct colors.
5. 5 Cook a fish sauce and sugar mixture with cornstarch until thickened, then pour the sauce over the fish and vegetables.

With an appliance

• Air fryer 48 min

  Replace step 3: thoroughly spray oil into the flour gaps on the fish, fry in an air fryer at 195 degrees for 18 minutes, flipping at the 11th minute; steps 4 and 5 still involve stir-frying the vegetables and cooking the sauce, then pouring it over the fish when it is just cooked.