Fish Fingers so perfectly golden and crunchy it’s hard to believe they’re BAKED rather than fried! Breaded white fish baked in the oven using a secret method to make them super crispy outside and tender on the inside, with the extra bonus of a mess-free way to coat the fish in breadcrumbs. Clean fingers – yay!
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
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Toast the breadcrumbs: it’s an extra step but it’s effortless – just spread the breadcrumbs on a tray, spray with oil, then bake for 5 minutes. Fish fingers cooks quickly in the oven (15 min max), faster than the time you need for the breadcrumb to become golden and crisp (no matter how much oil you use). So we give it a little helping hand by toasting it beforehand. This is how you can make anything breaded that’s baked beautifully golden ALL OVER rather than splotchy like this; and
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Single extra-strength dredge batter: no dusting with flour then dipping in egg. I use a single flour-egg dredge batter that provides extra sticking power which we need when we baked things that are breaded.
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
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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;
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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;
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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:
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Quick creamy lemon – mix together mayo, sour cream or yogurt (or a combo of these) with a squeeze of lemon juice;
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Ketchup and/or Sriracha with mayo, sour cream or yogurt (or any combo of these);
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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
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Fish Fingers
Ingredients
- 600g / 1.2lb white fish fillets , patted dry (Note 1)
- Oil spray (olive oil or any plain)
Crumb
- 1 1/2 cups (75g) panko breadcrumbs (Note 2)
- 1/4 cup (25g) parmesan
- 2 tsp paprika , optional
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper , each
Batter
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper , each
Serving
- Tartare sauce or other seafood dipping sauce
- Lemon wedges
- Finely chopped chives or parsley , garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F.
Crumbing:
- Toast breadcrumbs: Spread breadcrumbs on tray. Spray with oil, bake 4 minutes until golden. Transfer toasted breadcrumbs into bowl, add remaining Crumb ingredients and mix.
- Increase oven to 220°C / 425°F (fan 200°C). Spray used tray with oil.
- Batter: Mix Batter ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Cut the fish into strips 1.5 x 11 cm / 3/5 x 4.5" (they shink 30% in length).
- Place fish in Batter, gently mix with rubber spatula to coat. Do not leave sitting around (will become watery), coat immediately.
- Breading: Pick up fish with tongs, place in breadcrumbs. Spoon over crumb, use fingers to press to adhere.
- Baking: Transfer to baking tray. Spray with oil, bake 13 minutes or until crispy on the outside.
- Serve immediately with lemon wedges, Tartare Sauce or other Sauce of choice - see here for recipes, any of these great for fish fingers! Also Note 3 for few quick sauce options.
Recipe Notes:
- Classic - 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.
- Quick sauces:
- Quick creamy lemon - mix together mayo, sour cream or yogurt (or a combo of these) with a squeeze of lemon juice;
- Pink sauce - Ketchup and/or Sriracha with mayo, sour cream or yogurt (or any combo of these);
- Ketchup and/or mustard!
Nutrition Information:
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!
Have you ever eaten Yabby or even seen one? I believe native only to Australia. If so, what do they taste like? Love all your recipes!
Hi Frank, yes! They look like small lobsters and taste like a cross between a lobster/shrimp. 🙂
Many thanks!!
Your fish fingers put a whole new spin on finger food for me. We love a plate of good quality fish sticks, so these look wonderful. We have some lovely cod fillet in the freezer that will work well with this recipe.
Maybe Dozer has a girlfriend and he was out pining away for her.
You’ll love them Ron!! Love to know what you think once you try them! N x
Ooohh I love a fish finger sandwich with tomato ketchup.
Hugs for Dozer x x
Love it Jayne! 😂
In the US we’d eat these fish fingers with Fries and Coleslaw. Yum! can’t wait to try them.
The perfect combo Nadia!!
We have just bought an Instant Vortex 10 qt Oven…OMG it makes the best crunchy outside juicy inside chicken. Love it – hoping for some of your delicious recipes. Love your site. I am canadian but my granddaughter is in Fiji and she loves your blog too!!!
Sounds great Karen!!
Sounds fab. Is there an aldi frozen fish I could use for this!
Hi Christine – I’m sure there would be! N x
There is nothing about a packet of Fish Fingers that will attract me!!
This is really nice and BAKED!!
Poor Dozer with that big thick coat – he must suffer in these high temps. Into the pool with him 😂
Homemade is far better anyway Mary!! And Dozer is ok – he loves the water so it’s an easy way to cool down ❤️
Love your recipes Nagi. Have tried lots of them. This one I have done for many years and had in the freezer for when the kids came home from school for snacks and they grilled them. The only difference to yours is the panko crumbs (none available those days) I buy a packet of Corn Flakes and bash them down into crumbs. Good to get rid of the tension. Love your stories of Dozer. Keep up the good work.
Love the cornflake idea Sandi!! And as per Maz – you can easily make your own if you want to 🙂
Sandi, homemade panko is easy – just put some white bread through a coarse grater, and dry the crumbs in a slow oven. Check and stir them occasionally so they don’t brown.
Just the name on the packet in the freezer section of the supermarket has sounded a firm ‘no’ to me for many years ! For obvious reasons ! Somewhere along the line you seem to have taken most of the objections away !! Actually quite like the result . . . ! Can one of Australia’s best known dinner meals really deserve approval by the govt health authorities . , . 🙂 . . . ?
At least with homemade you know EXACTLY what’s gong in them Eha!! ☺️
I look forward to your posts, and enjoy trying them. You are such a talented cook with a twist of fresh ideas each time.
Thank you so much Marilyn ❤️
Can’t wait to cook these tasty looking fish fingers.
Btw, you can buy these great gel filled cooling mats for Dozer for those really hot days. I got one for my boy on ebay & they are lovely & cool.
What a great idea Kerry! I’m looking into it now!
how do you think crushed corn flakes would go replacing the panko?,
I have made similar before using crushed salt & vinegar chips
Hi Gary, someone mentioned this earlier and said it works fine! N x
what A YOU doing to me Woman? I just finish eating juice poached chicken, Yum now fish fingers I’ll pop Like balloon., thank YOU . Went Down The beach today and That’s First one for This year. Ok be good YOU Two.
Great day for the beach Vera! Hope you enjoyed the sunshine 🙂