Crispy fish bites recipe

Why go to the chippie and get an expensive take away meal when you can make your own very tasty crispy fish bites at home. 

These are quick and easy to make and all the family will love them too. We’ve served them with a home-made tartare sauce, just mayonnaise, capers, parsley and lemon, but they’re just as delicious served with tomato ketchup or plain mayo for dipping. Get these fish bites prepared in advance and cook them just before needed for the best results. Serve with oven chips or a salad.

Ingredients

• 500g cod fillet or other firm white fish, skinned
• 75g plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 200g fresh white breadcrumbs
• 1litre vegetable or rapeseed oil (for deep frying)

For the sauce:

• 200ml mayonnaise
• 2tbsp capers
• 2tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 lemon

Method

1. To make the sauce, mix the mayonnaise with the capers, parsley and the juice of half the lemon. Spoon into a bowl and chill until ready to serve.
2. Cut the fish into finger-sized pieces. Place the flour on a plate and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl and place the breadcrumbs on a separate plate.
3. Dip the fish first into the seasoned flour, then the eggs and finally the breadcrumbs, ensuring they are well coated.
4. Half fill a large, deep saucepan with the oil and heat until a crust of bread will brown in 40 seconds.
5. Fry the fish in the hot oil, in batches, so that the temperature of the oil is not lowered, until golden brown, about 2–3 mins. Drain well on kitchen paper and serve with the sauce and the remaining lemon cut into wedges.

Top tips for making crispy fish bites

You can oven-bake these crispy fish bites instead of deep-frying. Coat the fish in the egg and breadcrumbs, place on a baking tray and drizzle over a few tablespoons of olive oil. Bake at 200°C/400°F/Fan 180°C/Gas Mark 6 for about 15 mins until crisp and cooked through.

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