HOW TO MAKE FRIED FISH WITH FLOUR RECIPES

Steps:

• Salt the chicken. Place the chicken pieces on a baking sheet and sprinkle all over with 1 tablespoon of the salt. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
• Make the seasoning blend. Combine the paprika, white pepper, garlic powder, ginger, celery salt, black pepper, mustard, thyme, basil, and oregano in a large bowl.
• Season the chicken. Coat the chicken all over with half of the seasoning mixture (about 1/2 cup).
• Set up a dredging station. Add the flour, cornstarch, and remaining 1 tablespoon salt to the remaining spice mixture in the bowl and whisk to combine; set aside. Place the buttermilk, egg whites, and alcohol in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Fit a wire rack over a second rimmed baking sheet.
• Dredge the chicken. Working with 1 piece of chicken at a time, dip in the buttermilk mixture to completely coat, then place in the flour mixture (don't worry about letting any excess buttermilk drain off the chicken first). Shake the flour bowl as needed to completely coat the chicken, then use your fingers to press the flour coating onto the chicken.
• Set the coating. Place the coated chicken on the rack and repeat dredging the remaining chicken. Set aside at room temperature for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes while you set up for frying and heat the oil.
• Set up for frying. Place the oil in a large Dutch oven, attach a candy or deep-fry thermometer, and heat over medium-high heat until the oil is 350°F, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, wash and dry the empty baking sheet the chicken was seasoned on. Line this baking sheet with paper towels and fit with a second wire cooling rack; this will be your cooling station.
• Fry the chicken. Place 3 pieces of the chicken in the oil and fry, using tongs to rotate the pieces every 3 to 4 minutes and adjusting the heat as needed to maintain 325°F, until golden-brown with an internal temperature of 165°F (check by inserting a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken without touching bone), 12 to 15 minutes.
• Cool the chicken. Transfer the chicken to the rack on the second baking sheet. Make sure the oil comes back up to 350°F before frying the remaining chicken in 2 more batches. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Cook bell pepper, shallot, garlic, chile, and ginger, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden brown in spots, 5–8 minutes. Transfer to a blender. Add vinegar, dried thyme, sugar, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt; purée until smooth. Season sauce with more vinegar and/or salt if needed. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Grind coriander, fennel, cumin, and fenugreek seeds in a spice mill or with a mortar and pestle to a fine powder (it won’t be as fine with mortar and pestle); transfer to a small bowl. Mix in garlic powder, paprika, sugar, turmeric, MSG (if using), and 4 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 2½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, then stir in vinegar to make a paste.
• Place fish on a cutting board; pat dry. Using a knife, make slashes crosswise every 2" along body of fish, cutting all the way down to the bones. Turn over and repeat on other side. Season fish all over with salt, including inside cavity and slashes. Rub spice paste over fish, tucking some into slashes. Pour rice flour onto a rimmed baking sheet. Coat fish evenly in rice flour, shaking off any excess.
• Heat oil in a large wok or cast-iron skillet over medium-high until an instant-read thermometer registers 365°. Grip a fish by the tail and carefully lower, head first, into wok, making sure to lay it down away from you and releasing gently. Fry until cooked through and skin is deeply browned and crisp, about 4 minutes per side (use tongs and a fish spatula to turn). Transfer to a wire rack. Repeat with second fish. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Serve fish with sauce and lime wedges.