Pan-fried fish is easy, delicious and once you get used to cooking it, super versatile. Try it with pan fried walleye for an exceptional dish. Its easy to flavor with spices and various sauces. Try it out with this pan-fried walleye with lemon-caper butter.
What to look for when buying fish
If you are preparing pan fried walleye, when buying fresh water fish, look for these clues to freshness:
- Color: Translucent, pale pink to off-white (not yellowed or gray)
- Texture: Firm, not mushy or gaping
- Moisture: Slightly moist but not sitting in milky liquid
- Smell: Clean and mild — any strong odor is a no-go
- Bloodlines: Minimal browning or darkening along the center
What to Look for in Frozen Fish
Most fish comes in frozen, ideal for recipes at home- here is what to look for in your frozen fish:
No freezer burn or white patches will ensure your fish turns out perfect.
Not a Fan of Capers? Try These Other Walleye Recipes:
These crispy Salmon Bowls are also good
Pan Fried Walleye with Lemon Caper Butter
Pan-fried fish is easy, delicious and once you get used to cooking it, super versatile. Its easy to flavor with spices and various sauces. Try it out with this pan-fried walleye with lemon-caper butter.
Ingredients
- 2 6-8 ounce walleye fillets
- 2 Tbsp flour
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 lemon juiced and zested
- 1 Tbsp capers
- 2-3 Tbsp of fresh herbs i use what is in season like parsley, chives, dill or oregano
Instructions
- Pat walleye fillets dry and shake in a plastic bag with flour, salt and pepper and and shake off any excess.
- Coat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan with the olive oil
- Heat on medium and place the fillets in the skillet and cook 3 minutes. (if your filet has the skin on it place skin side down)
- Slide a thin metal spatula under the fish, The fish is ready to flip when fillets release from the pan. If the filets stick, give them another 30 seconds. They'll release when they've finished cooking.
- After flipping add the butter and cook fish another 2-3 minutes until done. Fillets will be golden and opaque when finished cooking.
- Add lemon juice, zest and capers to the butter sauce and heat through
- Pour butter sauce over the filet and finish with the fresh herbs
