What makes homemade fish fingers or some would call it fried fish sticks better than store-bought fish fingers is that you know they are healthier, what goes in them and definitely no nasty preservatives and trust me when I say it is absolutely more delicious than the store-bought frozen fish fingers.
As a child, I loved anything that was fried and fried fish fingers were definitely my go-to dinner as a kid but growing up I just didn’t mind reliving and eating the same childhood dinner sometimes. But the problem with so many store-bought fish-fingers is that the fish is frozen so the meat itself is quite watery and taste bland and this homemade breaded fish-fingers version is so much better.
Fish fingers ingredients
Bread crumbs- This is the most crucial part of the recipe, this is what is going to give a crispy crunch to the fish-fingers, now personally I love panko crumbs but if you prefer smooth bread crumbs then definitely use bread crumbs. Panko crumb gives a good mouthfeel texture and coarse bite and definitely more crunchier.
Seasoning – Again this is very important, to have the proper seasoning. fish needs to be seasoned with acidity, that way it eliminates any fishy taste and it also gives a good balance of flavour. In this case, I am using salt, pepper, lemon juice and mustard.
Fish; This is the primary ingredient, it is very essential to buy the right fish, I have explained below what fish is best to buy for fish-fingers
Best fish for fish fingers
It’s very important to use a white firm fish because frying it with a crumb exposes it to a high heat which is why you need a firm fish to hold its shape. I have used barramundi and that’s the best fish you can use. if you live in the UK then use Cod but any white firm fish is good for this recipe.
What to serve with fish fingers
Salad
Roast potatoes or chips
Tartare sauce ( nothing beats a good tartare sauce to have with fried fish)
Sauce for fish fingers
Tartare sauce
This is the best sauce that goes well with fried fish because it has a good flavour balanced with sweet and sour notes
you can also use mayonnaise with fried fish fingers
Fish fingers cooking time
It will take around 3-5 minutes in hot oil for the fish-fingers to cook. It is very important to note fish takes only a few minutes to cook, once the crumb turns brown take it out of the oil. But make sure the crumb is not too dark in colour or burnt. this will happen if the oil is too hot or if the oil is old ( if you have fried other things many times prior to frying the fish-fingers)
Can you make fried fish fingers ahead of time
Unfortunately no you cannot as it will get soggy, the best is to fry it just before serving
Can you prepare crumb fish ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare it until the crumbing part, wrap it well with a cling wrap and store in the fridge until needed.
Can I freeze crumbed fish?
Yes, you can freeze it, the raw crumbed fish can be frozen up to 6 months. Fry it from frozen but it will take longer to fry and need to reduce the oil temperature to 170C in order for the fish to be fully cooked.
You can also check my other dinner recipes
Watch how to make homemade fish fingers
Step by Step recipe on how to make homemade fish fingers
Equipment
- Sauce pan
Ingredients
- 300 g White Fish (Barramundi)
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Mustard
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
To Coat the fish
- 50 g All-purpose flour
- 2 Eggs
- 100 g Bread crumbs Panko
Instructions
- Cut the barramundi into thick long batons
- Place the fish in a bowl and add salt, pepper, mustard, lemon juice and mix well, leave aside for 20 minutes until needed
Crumbing fish
- Prepare 3 bowls, one bowl with flour, one bowl with slightly beaten eggs and one bowl with breadcrumvbs
- Pass the marinated fish firstly in flour, then in eggs and finally in breadcrumbs, leave aside until needed
Cooking fried fish fingers
- Heat a pot of oil on a medium fire
- Fry the fish until the crumb is golden brown If the crumb gets dark very quickly, then lower the fire and let the temperature of the oil reduce. If you have a fryer, use 180C to fry the fish.
- Enjoy with tartare sauce