A traditional Panamanian dish — Pescado Frito Panameño is the whole fried fish of Panama’s coasts, crisp-skinned and golden, with sweet, flaky meat inside. Corvina or pargo is marinated in garlic and lime, dusted with flour and fried until the skin crackles. Served with patacones, rice and a fresh onion-tomato salad, it is the defining meal of Panama’s beach towns.
Pescado Frito Panameño
A traditional Panamanian dish — Pescado Frito Panameño is the whole fried fish of Panama’s coasts, crisp-skinned and golden, with sweet, flaky meat inside.

Step by stepInstructions
- Score the fish in a few places on each side; rub all over with the garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
- Pat the fish dry and dust it lightly with flour, shaking off any excess.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Fry the fish for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until deeply golden and crisp and the flesh flakes easily at the thickest point.
- Drain on paper towels and serve whole with patacones, rice, the tomato-onion salad and lime wedges.
💡 Chef tips & storage
A hot pan and dry skin are the secrets to crispy fish — pat the fish very dry before flouring. Cook it undisturbed until the first side is deeply browned, or the skin will tear.

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