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Crispy Fish Sandwiches

By Camila Chaparro Published

We mix up just the right batter to make a stellar version of this East Coast staple.

New England seafood shacks sure know how to make the most of the white fish caught in the cold, deep waters of the North Atlantic. They dunk the fillets in a thick batter, deep-fry them until they’re crispy and golden brown, and load them onto a toasted bun with tender lettuce and a smear of tartar sauce. It’s a quintessential coastal sandwich that’s all about the succulent fish and its shatteringly crispy coating.

The fish is so good because the batter creates a physical barrier that protects the delicate fillets (haddock, cod, and halibut are popular choices for their large, sturdy flakes) from the hot oil and mitigates moisture loss. As the batter crisps and browns, the fish inside gently steams to moist, tender perfection. 

After reviewing our existing recipes for deep-fried fish, I narrowed the ingredient list for my batter to equal parts all-purpose flour and cornstarch, beer (for its carbonation and malty sweetness), baking powder, and salt. The flour and cornstarch would play complementary roles: The proteins in the flour would help the batter fuse to the fish and also brown deeply, and the cornstarch, which doesn’t cling or brown as well as flour, would help the batter crisp up nicely. Cornstarch also can’t form gluten, so it doesn’t turn tough. The baking powder would assist in developing a light, airy crust, as would the beer.

Prevent Sticking

  • To keep the pieces of haddock from sticking together in the hot oil, spear each piece of battered fish with a fork, let the excess batter drip off, and then drag the fish along the oil’s surface before releasing it. This gives the batter a chance to set up and harden so that it won’t adhere to other pieces it touches in the oil.

After letting the batter rest for 20 minutes so that the starch could fully hydrate, I dunked four haddock fillets into the mixture and fried them in 375-degree oil (our preferred temperature for frying fish) for about 4 minutes per side. As the pieces sizzled in the oil, carbon dioxide from the beer and baking powder started to escape, followed by steam from the beer, leaving hundreds of tiny pockets in their wake and creating a sturdy, lacy structure that became pleasingly crispy as it hardened.

To complement the crispy fish, I whipped up a tangy tartar sauce with capers, shallot, and sweet pickle relish mixed into mayonnaise and spiked with Worcestershire sauce. I spread the sauce onto a toasted brioche bun and topped it with the fish and some tender lettuce. This was a mighty fine representation of a mighty fine sandwich.

Recipe Crispy Fish Sandwiches with Tartar Sauce

We mix up just the right batter to make a stellar version of this East Coast staple.

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JC
JOHN C.
16 days

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.

MD
MILES D.
JOHN C.
9 days

Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!

CM
CHARLES M.
11 days

John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.