Lahore winter favourite · Deep fried
Lahori Fish Fry Recipe (Crispy Ajwain Fish)
Marinate in lemon. Besan and ajwain. Fry twice.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenLahori fish is the spicy, crisp fried fish sold from winter stalls in Lahore's Gawalmandi. Home versions go soggy or oily. The fix is a lemon and ajwain marinade, a thick besan and rice flour batter, and double frying: once to cook, once hot to crisp.
The 3 laws of lahori fish fry
Why this recipe works
Plain fish
No fishy smell.
Flour only
Crisp, spiced crust.
Once
Extra crunch.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Fish
The NineFoods fish fry gauge
Is it crisp?
Tap a piece.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Marinate
- Rub fish with lemon and salt; pat dry; coat in thick batter.
Fry
- Fry until cooked; rest 5 minutes.
Crisp
- Fry again in hot oil. Use the gauge above.
- Serve with chaat masala, lemon and chutney.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Single fry.
Fix next time
Double fry.
Why
No lemon or ajwain.
Fix next time
Use both.
Why
Wet fish.
Fix next time
Pat dry.
Why
Cool oil.
Fix next time
Hot oil.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Rahu | Main | Cod, haddock, basa |
| Besan | Coating | Plain flour plus cornflour |
| Ajwain | Aroma | Cumin |
| Frying | Cooking | Air fryer, sprayed |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Green chutney, lemon and naan.
Store
Best fresh.
Reheat
Hot oven or air fryer.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it crisp) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Lahori Fish Fry FAQ
What is Lahori fish?
Spicy fried fish in a besan and ajwain batter.
Which fish is best?
Rahu, or any firm white fish.
How do I make it crispy?
Double fry and add rice flour.
When is it eaten?
Mostly in winter.