Published March 1, 2024.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This fresh fish sandwich recipe is beer battered and fried to golden brown and served on a toasted bun with shredded cabbage and a homemade tartar sauce. Once you try this sandwich, there’s no returning to the fast food or restaurant version ever again.
I absolutely love seafood and eat it whenever I can. If you are looking to try out a few new fish dishes, then for sure make my tasty Halibut with Lemon Butter or Chilean Sea Bass
Fish Sandwich
Fish sandwich consists of a cooked fish fillet that is served on a bun with other ingredients such as sauce, lettuce, and cheese. There are many variations to a fish sandwich, and it can be tailored to your liking. I personally like it with shredded cabbage and tartar sauce on a toasted bun. It’s also delicious to serve with lettuce, tomato, onion, and tartar sauce on a toasted bun.
The history of the fish sandwich is a little murky as many countries border oceans that have been cooking and serving fish with bread for centuries. It didn’t become popular in the United States until McDonald’s franchise owner Lou Groen came up with the idea in 1962 of a fried fish sandwich because sales were down during Lent. His idea worked and the filet o’ fish sandwich was born and remains popular today. However, my recipe is superior in every way.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Fish – I used fresh cod in my recipe. However, you can also use halibut, sea bass, haddock, pollock, or mahi. Any firm white fish will work. If using frozen fish, be sure it is completely thawed.
- Cabbage – I prefer red or green cabbage on my fish sandwich. You can also use lettuce such as iceberg, butter leaf, or green leaf.
- Flour – You will need all-purpose flour for the batter. Substitute with bread flour if that is all you have.
- Corn Starch – This will help ensure the batter is light and fluffy.
- Baking Powder – I always add baking powder to my batter to help puff it up as it fries.
- Seasonings – This is optional, but I add granulated garlic and onion, along with paprika and cayenne. In addition, coarse salt and pepper, at the very least, are required to season the batter properly.
- Buns – You can use any hamburger buns for this recipe. I used a brioche bun for my fish sandwich.
- Liquid – I used a light beer which is classic in a batter of this style. You can also use dark beer for a stronger flavor. In addition, if you do not drink alcohol you can substitute with club soda, sparkling water, milk, or water.
- Oil – Any neutral flavored oil will work for frying the fish. I used avocado oil.
- Sauce – There are actually quite a few sauces you could use, but I prefer the classic Tartar Sauce.
How to Make a Fish Sandwich
Add the oil to a 4- or 5-quart pot and heat it until it reaches 350°.
In the meantime. pat the cod dry on both sides with paper towels and set them on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.
Gently season the fish on all sides with coarse salt. Set them to the side.
In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, granulated garlic, granulated onion, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Take 2/3 cup of the mixture and sprinkle it on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.
Dredge the fish in the seasoned flour on the sheet tray until coated on all sides, and then set them to the side on the tray. They can sit like this for up to 10 minutes.
While sitting in the flour you can make the tartar sauce and shred the cabbage. Set them to the side.
Next, whisk the beer into the bowl of seasoned flour until it is completely combined. It is like the consistency of a pancake batter. Be sure to watch my video.
Shake off any excess flour from the fish and then add it to the beer batter and submerge it completely.
Give the fish a little shake and then slowly add it to the oil while slowly waving it back and forth for 10 to 15 seconds so that it begins to fry to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown on the outside and cooked throughout.
Set the fish to the side on a rack over a sheet tray to drain off any excess oil. Repeat the process until all the fish is fried.
Add some shredded cabbage to the bottom of the toasted bun.
Place on a piece of fried fish and the tartar sauce and top bun. Make the other fish sandwiches and serve.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead:This is meant to be eaten as soon as the fish is done frying. You can keep them warm on a rack in the oven at low temperatures (180° to 200°) for up to 15 minutes before serving.
How to Store:Cover and store the ingredients separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.This will not freeze well.
How to Reheat:Place the desired number of fish evenly spread out on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 375° for 5-7 minutes or until hot.
Chef Notes + Tips
- Now, it certainly helps to have a deep fryer, but you can still pull this off if you have a pot, a thermometer, and plenty of oil.
- The cornstarch in thebatter helps to make a thick outside crust You can use 2 cups of flour and 2 tablespoons of baking powder instead.
- Fish is cooked allthe way through when it reaches 145° internally.
- If cooking more than1 fish at a time, be sure to keep the fish about 1″ to 2″ from each other or else they are going to stick together.
- The fish has about 15 to 20 minutes after frying before the breading starts to soften and break down.
- I try to scoop out and discard as much breading in the oil as possible between each fry to keep the oil clean.
- I also love serving the sandwich with creamy coleslaw.
- You can preserve the oil by cooling it, straining it through a fine mesh strainer, storing it covered at room temperature, and using it for 3 to 4 more fries over the next 4 to 6 weeks.
- Once you add the fish you will need to turn up the heat so that it maintains 350° slightly.
More Fish Recipes
- Broiled Salmon
- Fish Chowder
- Branzino
- Gravlax
- Tuna Salad
Video
Save
Fish Sandwich Recipe
5 from 5 votes
This fish sandwich recipe is beer battered and fried to golden brown and served on a toasted bun with shredded cabbage and tartar sauce.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- neutral-flavored oil for frying
- 4 6- ounce fresh cod fillets
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons granulated onion
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 ¼ cup light or dark beer
- 4 toasted brioche buns
- 1 cup shredded red or green cabbage
- Tartar sauce
- coarse salt to taste
Instructions
Add the oil to a 4- or 5-quart pot and heat it until it reaches 350°.
In the meantime. pat the cod dry on both sides with paper towels and set them on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.
Gently season the fish on all sides with coarse salt. Set them to the side.
In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, granulated garlic, granulated onion, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Take 2/3 cup of the mixture and sprinkle it on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.
Dredge the fish in the seasoned flour on the sheet tray until coated on all sides, and then set them to the side on the tray. They can sit like this for up to 10 minutes.
While it is sitting in the flour you can make the tartar sauce and shred the cabbage. Set them to the side.
Next, whisk the beer into the bowl of seasoned flour until it is thoroughly combined. It is like the consistency of a pancake batter. Be sure to watch my video.
Shake off any excess flour from the fish and then add it to the beer batter and submerge it completely.
Give the fish a little shake and then slowly add it to the oil while slowly waving it back and forth for 10 to 15 seconds so that it begins to fry to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown on the outside and cooked throughout.
Set the fish to the side on a rack over a sheet tray to drain off any excess oil. Repeat the process until all the fish is fried.
Add some shredded cabbage to the bottom of the toasted bun.
Place on a piece of fried fish and add the tartar sauce and top bun. Make the other fish sandwiches and serve.
Notes
Make-Ahead:This is meant to be eaten as soon as the fish is done frying. You can keep them warm on a rack in the oven at low temperatures (180° to 200°) for up to 15 minutes before serving.
How to Store:Cover and store the ingredients separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.This will not freeze well.
How to Reheat: Place the desired number of fish evenly spread out on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 375° for 5-7 minutes or until hot.
Now, it certainly helps to have a deep fryer, but you can still pull this off if you have a pot, a thermometer, and plenty of oil.
The cornstarch in the batter helps to make a thick outside crust. You can use 2 cups of flour and 2 tablespoons of baking powder instead.
Fish is cooked all the way through when it reaches 145° internally.
If cooking more than 1 fish at a time, be sure to keep the fish about 1″ to 2″ from each other or else they are going to stick together.
The fish has about 15 to 20 minutes after frying before the breading starts to soften and break down.
I try to scoop out and discard as much breading in the oil as possible between each fry to keep the oil clean.
I also love serving the sandwich with creamy coleslaw.
You can preserve the oil by cooling it, straining it through a fine mesh strainer, storing it covered at room temperature, and using it for 3 to 4 more fries over the next 4 to 6 weeks.
Once you add the fish you will need to turn up the heat so that it maintains 350° slightly.
Nutrition
Calories: 644kcalCarbohydrates: 85gProtein: 26gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 2179mgPotassium: 617mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1052IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 3mg
Course: dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, english
Author: Chef Billy Parisi
Elevate Your Every Day Cooking
Get Chef Billy’s go-to tips that transform “blah” into “brilliant” plus weekly newsletter!
Add a comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
6 comments
- Niki
Just made this and man……so yummy! All I needed was to be sitting beachside on the Oregon Coast. Delicious! Thanks for another great recipe!
- Reply
- Jan McDonough
I made this tonight with fresh flounder. It was absolutely phenomenal ! I over seasoned the batter due to using club soda, instead of beer and it came out perfect. Next time I will have beer on hand. The batter puffed up perfectly and the fish was beautifully golden. Thank you for another great recipe.
- Reply
- Sue Sakolsky
Can this be made in the air fryer?
- Reply
- sue
Thank you so ChefBilly tasty 😁😋🤩
- Reply
- sue 😁
Thank you ChefBilly yum ops battery flat😁😋🤗
- Reply
- sue 😁
Thank you ChiefBlly tasty recipe 😁🤩😋
- Reply
