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Pescado Frito Costeño

A whole fish fried until golden and shatteringly crisp, served with lime, hogao, patacones, and coconut rice — the taste of the Colombian coast.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 2Servings
🏷 Colombian KitchenCategory
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Pescado Frito Costeño

On the Caribbean coast, fried whole fish is the Friday lunch that draws crowds to roadside eateries. A whole tilapia or mojarra, scored, seasoned with garlic and lime, and fried crisp in hot oil, arrives at the table with patacones and arroz con coco.

Whole fish, hot oil, coastal happiness

The skin fries into a golden, crackling shell while the flesh inside stays moist and flaky. Squeezed with lime and piled with hogao, it is salty, bright, and impossibly satisfying — a beach vacation on a plate.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Score the fish 3 times on each side; rub with the garlic, lime juice, salt, and pepper, and let sit 15 minutes.
  2. Pat the fish completely dry and dust lightly with flour, shaking off the excess.
  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until a pinch of flour sizzles on contact.
  4. Fry one fish at a time for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until deep golden and the skin is crisp.
  5. Drain on paper towels and keep warm while you fry the second fish.
  6. Serve whole with hogao, patacones, arroz con coco, and lime wedges.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Pat the fish very dry before frying and do not crowd the pan — moisture and crowding cause sticking and soggy skin. Best eaten immediately; leftover fish keeps 1 day refrigerated and is good flaked over rice.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook20 min
Servings2
CategoryColombian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →