Say bye-bye to the boxes in the freezer aisle. Homemade fish fingers are incredible, SO EASY to make and they’re healthy {226 calories for 3!}
Fish Fingers recipe
Homemade fish fingers made without frying, and without your fingers getting caked with batter and breadcrumbs? YES YOU CAN! This fish fingers recipe uses a much loved reader reader favourite baked breading technique involving a quick toasting of breadcrumbs in the oven and a single extra-strength dredge batter, by passing the usual flour-then-egg method. This same breadcrumb baking method is also used in these reader favourite recipes: baked Chicken Cordon Bleu, Crunchy Chicken Tenders and even homemade Filet-O-Fish. Just look at this pile of golden fish fingers! Don’t you just want to devour them all??
How to make fish fingers
So getting right to the point (because I know you’re just busting to know how I got them so perfectly golden!), here’s how to make fish fingers my way:
My secret steps
What goes in Fish Fingers
And here are the ingredients you need.
Best fish for fish fingers
I’ve used Ling – the long shape makes it ideal for cutting into fish finger batons. Virtually any fish fillets will work here except lean fish that dries out easily, such as swordfish, kingfish, bonito and tuna. Other popular fish that will work well include: tilapia, cod, basa, catfish, barramundi, bream, snapper, John dory / Silver dory. See the recipes notes for more suggestions and fish to avoid.
Other ingredients
Oil spray – There’s less than a teaspoon of oil used in the whole recipe by using oil spray instead of liquid oil. You get even coverage in a way you can never achieve using normal liquid oil. But if you don’t have spray, just substituted with a couple of tablespoons of oil; Mayo for batter – this might look like an odd ingredient to use, but there’s logic to my madness! The mayo adds a bit of oil into the dredge batter to help the breadcrumbs brown evenly from the inside as well as the outside. It also adds a touch of flavour; Parmesan – adds a boost of umami to the fish fingers, compensating for not frying in oil (because let’s face it – deep frying makes everything taste better. Even Mars Bars, apparently 😂)
Sauce for Fish Fingers
The classic sauce for Fish Fingers is Tartare Sauce which you will find in this recipe along with Thousand Island, Marie Rose and the RecipeTin Family Favourite seafood dipping sauce. All these go equally well with Fish Fingers. If you’re after a really quick sauce, try one of these:
Quick creamy lemon – mix together mayo, sour cream or yogurt (or a combo of these) with a squeeze of lemon juice; Ketchup and/or Sriracha with mayo, sour cream or yogurt (or any combo of these); Ketchup and/or mustard!
The breadcrumb coating is nicely flavoured, so you don’t need a ton of flavour in the sauce. You just want something wet. Even a squeeze of fresh lemon juice would suffice here!
What to serve with Fish Fingers
Here’s a few suggestions for things to serve on the side. I’m sticking with healthy options here to be one theme – but no one ever said no to a side of Cheesy Garlic Bread or homemade Wedges!
And it’s freezer friendly – from frozen!
I know those boxes of frozen fish fingers are tempting for a convenience meal. Take out of freezer, throw it on a tray, bake from frozen. Well guess what? You can bake homemade fish fingers from frozen too! Sure it takes a little longer to make them from scratch rather than grabbing a box at the grocery store. But these taste better, they’re way better for you and you know exactly what’s in them. Win, win, win! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Life of Dozer
I took this 5 minutes before I hit Publish on this recipe. He’s spotted something of interest…. just not sure what 😂 Whatever it is, it must be really captivating – he’s been out there for ages in the beating hot sun!
