Carapaus Fritos in the Air FryerCrispy Horse Mackerel

Carapaus (horse mackerel) are one of the cheapest and most loved fish in Portugal. Small ones are cleaned, salted, dusted in flour and fried whole until the skin crackles. They're eaten with tomato rice, salad or açorda, and often the leftovers become carapaus de escabeche, soused in vinegar and onions the next day.

The air fryer handles them well because the fish are small and oily.

The recipe

Carapaus Fritos in the Air FryerCrispy Horse Mackerel

Small Portuguese horse mackerel, salted, floured and crisped in the air fryer. Served with tomato rice or açorda, it's a real Portuguese weeknight fish supper.

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Prep15 min

Cook14 min

Total29 min

Serves4

Ingredients

MetricUS

Serves

4

½×1×2×3×

• 12 small horse mackerel (carapaus), about 800 g, gutted and cleaned
• 1 tbsp coarse sea salt
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 4 tbsp plain flour or fine cornmeal
• Olive oil for spraying
• Lemon wedges to serve

Method

1. Rinse the fish and pat them dry. Make two shallow cuts on each side.
2. Rub them with the salt, garlic and lemon juice and leave them for 30 minutes.
3. Pat dry again, then dust them all over with flour, shaking off the excess.
4. Spray the basket and the fish generously with olive oil. Lay them in a single layer.
5. Air fry at 200 °C for 12–14 minutes, turning once and spraying again, until golden and crisp.
6. Serve hot with lemon wedges, tomato rice and a green salad.

Notes

Clear ticks

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Leftovers: escabeche

Lay any leftover fish in a dish. Soften sliced onions and garlic in olive oil with a bay leaf and paprika, add a splash of white wine vinegar, and pour it over the fish. Leave it in the fridge overnight and serve cold.

From the shop

What you’ll need

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Amazon best seller

Ninja Foodi 8 Qt DualZone Air Fryer

Two drawers that finish together: bacalhau in one, batatas a murro in the other. Ideal for Portuguese meals, which are usually a main plus a side.

Tip: Use the sync-finish button so both drawers are ready at the same moment.

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Amazon best seller

TrendPlain glass olive oil sprayer

A fine mist of real azeite is what turns air-fried food golden. It's cheaper and kinder to non-stick baskets than aerosol sprays.

Tip: Fill it with a mild olive oil and keep it next to the air fryer.

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Portuguese

Algarve sea salt

Sea salt from the Algarve salt pans, for coarse-salt roasting batatas a murro and for finishing grilled fish.

Tip: A little goes a long way. Use it for finishing, not boiling water.

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