Wednesday, October 30, 2024
HomeHealthy FoodFish Fingers • Better Than Frozen! Baked/Air Fryer Option {+Video} • Two...

Fish Fingers • Better Than Frozen! Baked/Air Fryer Option {+Video} • Two Purple Figs


Fish Fingers are SO MUCH easier to make at home than you think! They’re TASTY, delicious, perfectly crisp with a succulent inside. Be sure to follow our step by step and video for baked fish fingers, and air fryer fish fingers. Your Family will love this easy, quick and additive new fish recipe!

A hand holding one crunchy golden fish finger over a plate of fish fingers and some lemon slices

This is the one fish fingers recipe you’re looking for, I promise. It’s completely different than our ever so popular Fish Fry. If you’re a fried fish person, we ABSOLUTELY rocked that fish fry recipe. No matter what type of seafood person you are, you’ll find that we’ve probably covered it here.

 

All types of fish like Chilean Sea BassBaked HaddockPan Seared CodHalibutSalmonShrimp ScampiGrilled Mahi Mahi, and more! How to’s like How to Cook ScallopsHow To Cook Lobster TailHow to Cook MusselsCrab Claws and more!

Luscious seafood delicacies like Tuna TartareTuna Tartare or Tuna CarpaccioGrilled Octopus, Poke BowlSushi Burrito, Cooking SardinesGreen Mussels and more!

Now if you’re looking for the good old fish fingers, this will be your favorite recipe. I’ve shared instructions on Air frying them as well. You just can’t go wrong!

Why You’ll Love This Fish Fingers Recipe

  • It’s SO tasty and delicious!
  • The crunch is superb, it’s almost hard to believe these fish fingers are baked!
  • Even that crunch is flavored with herbs and spices.
  • These fish fingers will replace your favorite boxed frozen variety.
  • Making homemade fish fingers takes 20 minutes only! 
  • This recipe can be made in the oven and air fryer with equal success.
  • It’s adult and kids approved!

Ingredients You’ll Need

A plate of mahi mahi fillets to cut into sticks for fish fingers

FISH. You’ll need a firm type of fish for this recipe. We’re using Mahi Mahi fish, which we love to make Mahi Mahi Tacos with as well. It’s also a great fish for grilling, so here’s Grilled Mahi Mahi and baking (Baked Mahi Mahi)

You can use also something like Cod and Halibut for this recipe. Avoid flakey fillets as they won’t hold up the shape.

wet coating ingredients for the fish fingers including two eggs, cajun seasoning, fresh lemon juice

WET COATING. To coat the fish fingers, you’ll need a mixture of the ingredients above. Eggs, cajun seasoning and fresh lemon juice. 

Panko crust ingredients for the fish fingers including panko bread crumbs, cajun seasoning and oregano

PANKO CRISP COATING. To coat the fish fingers in a crisp crust, you’ll need Panko bread crumbs. Season that with the same cajun spice mix, and add in some oregano, onion flakes and granulated garlic. 

How to Make Fish Fingers

A hand holding a sheet pan of the toasted panko bread crumbs mixture

  1. Begin by mixing the seasoning on to the panko bread crumbs. Spray that with some avocado oil spray and shake the sheet pan really well. Toast the panko bread crumb mixture in the oven for 6-8 mins until lightly toasted.
  2. Toasting the breadcrumbs before coating the fish is an extra 7 mins step that makes a world of difference to the crust, and the recipe. 
    A hand holding cut up mahi mahi fish into fish fingers shape
  3. During that time, you’ll slice the fish fillets into finger size pieces. We’ve used Mahi Mahi, as it’s a firm white fish that holds well to its shape. 
    the mixture of eggs and seasoning in a plate
  4. Mix the wet ingredients in the shallow plate, and feel free to add more or less of the spice or seasoning to your taste. 
    The cut up fish filets added to the shallow plate of wet ingredients to coat before the breadcrumbs
  5. Now add the cut up fish fingers into the plate of wet ingredients and toss them well. You want to have each piece of fish well coated in this mixture so that the coating sticks. 
    A hand holding a piece of fish coated in toasted breadcrumbs showing how it should be coated
  6. One by one, remove the fish filet and it to the toasted breadcrumbs sheet. Toss well and all around to evenly coat. 
    The coated fish fingers in breadcrumbs arranged on a cooling rack on the baking sheet ready to bake
  7. Then take a cooling rack, place it over a baking sheet and arrange the fish fingers over that rack in a single layer. 
  8. Baking the fish fingers on a cooling rack rather than cookie sheet or parchment paper lined sheet will accentuate the crispness of the curst. 
    Golden and ready fish fingers right out of the oven on the cooling rack on a baking sheet
  9. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the fish is firm and cooked through, and has a deeper golden crust.
  10. Remove and serve with dipping sauces. 
    A plate of fish fingers out of the oven arranged on a plate surrounded by lemon slices, fresh dill and a bowl of dipping sauce
  11. SO GOOD!

Air Fryer Fish Fingers:

Fish Fingers in an air fryer basket perfectly cooked and golden.

The best things about this recipe is that you can make it in the air fryer and get the same results. To Air fry the fish fingers:

  • Follow all the steps to preparing the fish, coating them in egg and toasted bread crumbs mixture. 
  • Spray the air fryer basket and the fish fingers. 
  • Place the fish in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry at 400 for 10-12 minutes shaking halfway.
  • It comes out JUST perfect!

A hand holding a bitten piece of fish stick showing the texture on the inside. succulent cooked fish fingers on the inside with a crisp outside

Fish Fingers Tips

  1. Toast the breadcrumbs for a deeper, nuttier and richer crust. This is just an extra 6-7 minutes of your time but it makes a world of difference to your fish fingers.
  2. Panko bread crumbs offer a far more superior crust compared to regular Italian breadcrumbs. 
  3. Seasoning the crumbs is a great tip to add some flavor with minimal effort. 
  4. The wet mixture is also seasoned for extra flavor. 
  5. Make sure you toss the cut up fish fillets well into the wet mixture because this is what helps the crumbs stick.
  6. The type of fish you use if crucial. Use firm fillets for this recipe. Avoid flakey sensitive thin fillets. 
  7. If baking in the oven, place the coated fish on a cooling rack over the baking sheet. This step helps the fish fingers crisp up on all sides. 
  8. If you have an air fryer, then the air fryer fish fingers are quicker and come out JUST as perfect!

A large plate of fish fingers out of the air fryer or oven with a dip bowl

How to Make Frozen Fish Fingers / Freeze this recipe?

This is the good news-you can make your own frozen fish fingers and never opt for store bought again!

  1. Prepare the fish, coat them in wet mixture and then toasted breadcrumbs. Now place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze them. To cook them, bake as above by adding extra 5 minutes to the time.
  2. You can likewise freeze baked or air fried fish fingers. Once cooled after cooking, place the fish fingers in a sealed ziploc vag and freeze them. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer for 5 minutes. 

What to Serve with Fish Fingers?
A hand dipping a fish fingers in a bowl of spicy mayo and tartare sauce

Fries are my kids’ favorite side dish to serve with these, and of course dipping sauces. Spicy Mayo is a MUST for us, along with Tartar Sauce Recipe. A flavor packed Garlic Sauce is SO GOOD! Garlic Parmesan Sauce and Dill Sauce are SO GOOD!

What is the BEST Fish for Fish Fingers?

Today we used Mahi Mahi. It’s a firm white fish that holds its shape SO well! And that’s KEY for this recipe. Avoid using flakey, sensitive fish. Other types like  Haddock, CodHalibut, or Tilapia.

 

Baked Fish Sticks: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Stir 2 Tbsp cooking oil into the seasoned Panko breadcrumbs (this helps the fish sticks brown and crisp evenly). Place the breaded fish sticks on a wire cooling rack placed on a baking sheet. Bake the fish sticks for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Air Fryer Fish Sticks: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Stir 2 Tbsp cooking oil into the seasoned Panko breadcrumbs (this helps the fish sticks brown and crisp evenly). Place the fish sticks in the air fryer basket in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the air fryer. Cook the fish sticks at 400ºF for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden.

30 Mins Fish Recipes 

Chilean Sea Bass
Pan Seared Cod
Fish Fry
Salmon Bowl
Poke Bowl
Honey Glazed Salmon
Shrimp Ceviche
Grilled Mahi Mahi
Chili Lime Shrimp
Sardines

Fish Fingers

Fish Fingers are SO MUCH easier to make at home than you think! They’re TASTY, delicious, perfectly crisp with a succulent inside. Your Family will love this easy, quick and additive new fish recipe!

Ingredients

Wet Coating

  • 2
    eggs
  • 1
    Tablespoon
    lemon juice
  • 1
    teaspoon
    each salt and pepper
  • 2
    teaspoons
    paprika
  • 1
    teaspoon
    Granulated onion
  • 1
    teaspoon
    granulated garlic
  • 1
    teaspoon
    oregano

Bread Crumbs

  • 2-3
    cups
    Panko bread crumbs
  • 1
    teaspoon
    each salt and pepper
  • 2
    teaspoons
    granulated onion
  • 1
    teaspoon
    granulated garlic
  • 2
    teaspoons
    oregano
  • 1
    teaspoon
    paprika
  • 1/2
    teaspoon
    chilli flakes

To Serve

  • 1
    lemon
    sliced
  • 1
    fresh dill
    sprig

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 374 degrees.

  2. Begin by mixing the seasoning on to the panko bread crumbs on a baking sheet. Spray that with some avocado oil spray and shake the sheet pan really well.

  3. Toast the panko bread crumb mixture in the oven for 6-8 mins until lightly toasted.

  4. During that time, you’ll slice the fish fillets into finger size pieces. We’ve used Mahi Mahi, as it’s a firm white fish that holds well to its shape.

  5. Mix the wet ingredients in the shallow plate, and feel free to add more or less of the spice or seasoning to your taste.

  6. Now add the cut up fish fingers into the plate of wet ingredients and toss them well. You want to have each piece of fish well coated in this mixture so that the coating sticks.

  7. One by one, remove the fish filet and it to the toasted breadcrumbs sheet. Toss well and all around to evenly coat.

  8. Then take a cooling rack, place it over a baking sheet and arrange the fish fingers over that rack in a single layer. Spray generously with oil.

  9. Baking the fish fingers on a cooling rack rather than cookie sheet or parchment paper lined sheet will accentuate the crispness of the curst. You’ll need to increase the oven to 400 degrees F for this.

  10. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the fish is firm and cooked through, and has a deeper golden crust.

  11. Remove and serve with dipping sauces.

  12. Follow all the steps to preparing the fish, coating them in egg and toasted bread crumbs mixture.

  13. Spray the air fryer basket and the fish fingers.

  14. Place the fish in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry at 400 for 10-12 minutes shaking halfway.

  15. It comes out JUST perfect!

Recipe Notes

Fish Fingers Tips

  1. Toast the breadcrumbs for a deeper, nuttier and richer crust. This is just an extra 6-7 minutes of your time but it makes a world of difference to your fish fingers.
  2. Panko bread crumbs offer a far more superior crust compared to regular Italian breadcrumbs. 
  3. Seasoning the crumbs is a great tip to add some flavor with minimal effort. 
  4. The wet mixture is also seasoned for extra flavor. 
  5. Make sure you toss the cut up fish fillets well into the wet mixture because this is what helps the crumbs stick.
  6. The type of fish you use if crucial. Use firm fillets for this recipe. Avoid flakey sensitive thin fillets. 
  7. If baking in the oven, place the coated fish on a cooling rack over the baking sheet. This step helps the fish fingers crisp up on all sides. 
  8. If you have an air fryer, then the air fryer fish fingers are quicker and come out JUST as perfect!

How to Make Frozen Fish Fingers / Freeze this recipe?

This is the good news-you can make your own frozen fish fingers and never opt for store bought again!

  1. Prepare the fish, coat them in wet mixture and then toasted breadcrumbs. Now place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze them. To cook them, bake as above by adding extra 5 minutes to the time.
  2. You can likewise freeze baked or air fried fish fingers. Once cooled after cooking, place the fish fingers in a sealed ziploc vag and freeze them. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer for 5 minutes. 

What to Serve with Fish Fingers?

Fries are my kids’ favorite side dish to serve with these, and of course dipping sauces. Spicy Mayo is a MUST for us, along with Tartar Sauce Recipe. A flavor packed Garlic Sauce is SO GOOD! Garlic Parmesan Sauce and Dill Sauce are SO GOOD!

What is the BEST Fish for Fish Fingers?

Today we used Mahi Mahi. It’s a firm white fish that holds its shape SO well! And that’s KEY for this recipe. Avoid using flakey, sensitive fish. Other types like  Haddock, CodHalibut, or Tilapia.

Nutrition Facts

Fish Fingers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 439
Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Trans Fat 0.01g

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 10g

Cholesterol 206mg69%

Sodium 1580mg69%

Potassium 930mg27%

Carbohydrates 32g11%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 39g78%

Vitamin A 1289IU26%

Vitamin C 16mg19%

Calcium 136mg14%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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