Pan-Fried Carp in Cornmeal
Tender, aromatic fish in a crispy golden crust! Pan-frying carp in cornmeal takes little time and no special skills - anyone can do it, just follow the method.
Updated : 11 February, 2026
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
1.5 kilograms
Carp
to taste
Salt
to taste
Dry spices
4 tablespoon
Cornmeal
80 milliliters
Vegetable oil
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How to fry carp in cornmeal? Prepare all the necessary ingredients. It’s best to buy live, very fresh fish - frozen fish makes freshness and quality harder to judge. Use any spices that suit fish. Cornmeal can be replaced with wheat flour or breadcrumbs.
Step 2
If the carp is frozen, thaw it ahead of time: keep it in the refrigerator for about 6 hours, then 1-2 hours at room temperature. Improper thawing can make the cooked fish dry. Remove the scales and take out the innards. Cut off the head and fins. Rinse the carp well under running water. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. If you plan to fry the head too, don’t forget to remove the gills.
Step 3
Cut the carp into serving pieces about 1-1.5 cm (≈0.4–0.6 in) thick. Pieces that are too thick will take longer to cook through. Rub the fish with salt on all sides and let it sit for 5 minutes to salt lightly.
Step 4
Then rub with spices. Don’t overdo the spices so they don’t overpower the fish’s flavor. I used only ground black pepper.
Step 5
Heat a skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat. There should be enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. For a browned crust and juicy fish, dredge it. Coat the fish right before placing it into the hot skillet so the coating doesn’t get soggy.
Step 6
Place the prepared fish pieces into the skillet with a small gap between them so they’re easy to turn. Fry on both sides over medium heat until golden. Don’t try to flip the fish during the first 5 minutes so the coating can set and won’t fall off. No need to cover the pan with a lid.
Step 7
To remove excess oil, transfer the fried pieces to a plate lined with paper towels.
Author note
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