Fish Sticks

Crispy, homemade fish sticks are a delicious snack or finger food loved by both kids and adults alike. My fish sticks recipe features strips of fresh cod seasoned and coated in a delicious combo of polenta corn grits and panko breadcrumbs for added crunch, then shallow fried and served up with a bright lemony mayo sauce for dipping!

Better from scratch than from a box

When my son was a little boy (many moons ago at this point!), fish sticks were one of his favorite things to munch on after school, or as a light meal in the evenings, while he watched some of his favorite shows.

At first, I started out by serving good quality frozen fish sticks from the market as a time saver, but then switched to making my own homemade fish sticks when I realized how quick, easy and even more delicious they were when made from scratch. We love 'em!

Part of the fun is using two different coatings—polenta style corn grits and panko breadcrumbs—to make these fish sticks extra crispy and tasty. I also like to mix together a very simple little lemony mayo sauce as an accompaniment for dipping.

Hot, crispy and mouthwatering, these fish sticks are absolutely irresistible to both kids and adults alike, and make for a light meal or a tasty, protein-packed snack when you crave a little something cozy, yet fun!

My Recipe for Fish Sticks with Lemony Mayo

When it comes to preparing fish sticks from scratch, using a firm white fish such as cod or even halibut is the best way to go. These types of fish are easy to slice into strips, which helps create that classic fish stick shape—they're also nice and mild in flavor.

I typically opt for cod, simply because it is less expensive and perfect to use in a preparation for fish sticks.

And as far as the coating goes, I like my fish sticks to be as crispy and crunchy as possible, so I love the combination of polenta style corn grits and also panko breadcrumbs.

After a quick fry in a shallow pan, these fish sticks come out deliciously golden brown, with that crispy texture on the outside.

And since no plate of fish sticks is quite complete without a scrumptious dipping sauce, I like to whip up a very simple lemony mayo (sort of a mock tartar sauce) made with fresh, bright lemon, a touch of garlic and a tiny pinch of fresh chives.

Here's a sneak peek at my fish sticks recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I marinate my fish in seasoning for 10 to 15 minutes, to impart extra flavor.
2. While the fish marinates, I mix together my lemony mayo dipping sauce ingredients, then set that mixture aside.
3. Next, I dredge the strips of fish in the coating ingredients, set onto a platter to hold.
4. I then add enough oil to my skillet for shallow frying.
5. Next, I fry the fish sticks (working in batches, as necessary), then place onto a wire rack, season with salt, and allow to cool just enough to handle.
6. To serve, I plate up and enjoy with a couple of dollops of the lemony mayo dipping sauce on the side.

Recipe

Fish Sticks

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

These crunchy fish sticks are coated in panko and corn grits, and come complete with a bright, lemony mayo dipping sauce!

Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Yield: Serves 4

Nutrition Info: 433 calories (per serving)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Fish Sticks Ingredients:

• 1 pound cod (or halibut), cut into strips
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or onion
• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, whisked
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ cup polenta-style corn grits
• Pinch paprika (optional)
• Avocado oil or vegetable oil, for shallow frying

Lemony Mayo Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayo
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• Pinch or two of salt
• Pinch of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of chopped chives or parsley

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your fish sticks ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. Place your cod strips into a small bowl and add in a couple of pinches of salt and pepper, along with the lemon zest and granulated garlic or onion, and allow the fish to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, gather and prep your lemony mayo ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
4. To prepare you lemony mayo, whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl, and set aside. Keep cold if making ahead.
5. When ready to prepare the fish sticks, set up a little dredging station with the flour in one bowl, the whisked eggs in another bowl, and the panko and corn grits mixture (with the pinch of paprika, if using) in another bowl.
6. Dredge each strip of fish in the flour, next dip in the egg, then into the panko and corn grits mixture, and place onto a plate to hold. Once all are fish sticks are coated, heat your oil and prepare a wire rack or baking sheet to hold your fish sticks once fried.
7. Add enough oil to a skillet for a shallow fry (about an inch), and heat it up over medium-high heat until little bubbles begin forming. Add a few of the coated fish sticks into the oil, and working in batches, fry for a couple of minutes per side, until golden-brown.
8. Place the fried fish sticks onto the wire rack, and finish with a little sprinkle of salt when the fish sticks come out of the hot oil.
9. Serve with the lemony mayo for dipping.

Tips & Tidbits for Fish Sticks Recipe:

• Cod makes the perfect fish stick: I like to use cod for this recipe because it is a firm white fish, which is ideal for this preparation. You could certainly use halibut, but cod is quite similar, with milder flavor, and also less expensive.
• A quick marination: You can very easily create more flavorful fish sticks by lightly seasoning the fish, and allowing the strips to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before dredging and frying.
• Corn grits and panko for crunch: To create that really crunchy exterior to these fish sticks, it's great to use a combination of polenta style corn grits and panko breadcrumbs. You could also use corn meal, but it is more finely ground than the grits—the grits provide a bit more texture, but either works well.
• A quick, shallow fry is all you need: You don't need much oil to prepare these fish sticks, just enough for a shallow fry. It only takes a couple of minutes on each side, and these tasty sticks are golden brown and done! However, if you prefer to bake them, then bake at 400° for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
• A simple lemony mayo for dipping: I love lemon with fish, and so I like to whip up a very quick and simple lemony mayo to serve as a dipping sauce with these fish sticks. It's a sauce loaded with bright, fresh flavor, and compliments the fish sticks in a really tasty way.

Craving more cozy and delicious finger foods? Check out my recipe for Coconut Crunch Chicken Strips, Potato Chip Chicken Strips, Crab Cakes, Vietnamese Fried Chicken, Mozzarella Sticks, or my recipe for Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Ranch Dipping Sauce!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2018, and has been updated with even more love!