Flaky & Crispy Cod In The Air Fryer

This air fryer crispy and flaky cod with bruschetta salsa is the perfect dish for when you’re craving something light yet satiating and bursting with Italian flavors. It’s quick, easy, nutritious, and will leave you feeling like you’re dining al fresco in the heart of Italy!

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Ingredient Notes & Substitutions 
• Step by Step
• Video Instructions
• Expert Tips
• FAQs

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This air fryer cod paired with a vibrant bruschetta-style tomato salad is a flavor-packed meal that’s simple enough for a weeknight but impressive enough for guests.

• The cod is lightly crispy on the outside, flaky, and tender on the inside - air frying is magical for getting that perfect fish texture in under 10 minutes.
• This dish is healthy and light, thanks to air frying and fresh, wholesome ingredients, yet it’s also quite filling given the protein and healthy fats of the fish.
• Cod has a mild, neutral flavor and needs to be spruced up with a good condiment or sauce. In this recipe, the Italian tomato salsa salad is the most perfect pairing. 
• While this recipe is for cod, I’ve made it a few times with other white fish and also with salmon. The cod is the winner if you want a fish that doesn’t taste overwhelmingly fishy. 

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions 

• Cod: I used fresh cod filets but you can easily buy frozen and thaw them out in the refrigerator overnight or in a bowl of warm water. 
• For the coating: Use olive oil, flour (regular or gluten-free), salt, black pepper, garlic powder and dry Italian mixed herbs. Italian seasoning is a great all-in-one option.
• For the Bruschetta Salad: This is somewhere between a salad and a salsa and is made with fresh tomatoes, red onion (white could also be used), Kalamata olives (or other black olives), fresh basil, white wine vinegar (or red), olive oil, salt and pepper. Parsley could be used in place of basil or you can use dry basil.

Step by Step

1. Prep the cod

• Brush cod filets with olive oil.
• Combine flour with seasonings and lightly dust the filets. Set aside. 

2. Air fry the cod

• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/200°C.
• Brush or spray the air fryer basket with olive oil.
• Place cod pieces in the air fryer, spray tops with oil, and cook for 8-10 minutes (depending on thickness of filets, you can remove the smaller ones at 8 minutes and continue to cook the bigger pieces).

3. Make the salsa salad

• While the cod is cooking, mix all salsa ingredients in a bowl.

4. Serve

• Arrange cod on a platter, scatter salsa around, and serve extra salsa on the side.

Video Instructions

Expert Tips

• Ensure cod pieces are evenly coated with the seasoned flour for consistent crispiness but only coat lightly.
• Try adding paprika or lemon zest to the flour mix for a different flavor twist. 
• Use an oil spray for a light, even coating to avoid sogginess. Lightly misting the pieces with olive oil before air frying will give you that golden color and crispiness.
• Fresh, ripe tomatoes make a big difference in the bruschetta salsa. I have also made it with cherry tomatoes, which are extra sweet. 
• Swap tomatoes for diced mango or peach for a sweet twist, or add some diced cucumber for that extra crunch.
• Try other sauces and condiments like tartar sauce, aioli, or even a light yogurt-dill sauce which would also complement the cod nicely.

Check out this delicious recipes: 54+ Best Christmas Instant Pot Recipes