Crispy Panko Fish Bites with Tartare Sauce

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Fish bites coated in egg, flour and panko crumbs before being shallow fried in oil then served with homemade tartare sauce!

A plate of breaded, baked fish pieces garnished with green onions and lemon wedges, served with a bowl of tartar sauce.

Golden, Crispy Panko Fish Bites coated in zesty lemon and herbs, served with a creamy homemade tartare sauce. These are perfect as a starter, party platter or easy family dinner. Simple ingredients, big flavour, and ready in under an hour. If serving as a main meal, you can add a fresh salad, steamed green veg or oven chips! If you've got fresh fish to use (lucky you!) be sure to check out our Beer Battered Fish Burgers, Coconut Cream Raw Fish or our Yellow Fish Curry with Rice Noodles.

Ingredient notes:

Ingredients on a countertop include raw fish fillets, panko crumbs, jarred mayonnaise, flour, green olives, pickles, parsley, a lemon, an egg, and green onions.

Fish: To make fish bites, you really want a firm white fish that will hold its shape when frying. I've used tarakihi here but you could also use snapper or gurnard if you have it to hand.
Panko crumbs: This makes the fish super crispy and golden.
Tartare sauce: The homemade sauce is full of zesty flavours that really compliment the fish; capers, gherkins, spring onion and lemon!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card for the ingredients, quantities and the full method.

Step by step instructions:

Mix the mayonnaise, capers, gherkins and spring onion with the juice of half the lemon. Season with salt and pepper. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

A green bowl containing chopped green onions, diced pickles, and a creamy white dressing.

A green bowl filled with creamy dip or sauce containing chopped pickles and topped with a sprinkle of ground black pepper.

Cut the fish into large bite-sized pieces. Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with the beaten egg and one with panko crumbs mixed with parsley and lemon zest.

Four dishes with ingredients for breaded fish: flour, beaten eggs, raw fish pieces, and a breadcrumb mixture with herbs and lemon zest.

Breaded food items, possibly cutlets or patties, coated with panko breadcrumbs and chopped herbs in a white container.

Coat the fish pieces in flour, then egg, then the panko mixture and season well. Heat oil in a large frying pan. Cook the fish in batches until golden and crispy.

A black plate filled with breaded, uncooked chicken nuggets coated in panko crumbs and sprinkled with herbs.

Breaded and pan-fried chicken pieces are arranged in a single layer in a black nonstick skillet.

Serve immediately with tartare sauce and extra lemon wedges.

A plate of breaded fried fish fillets garnished with green onions and lemon wedges, served with a bowl of creamy tartar sauce.

Recipe FAQs:

Can I bake these instead of frying?

Yes! Bake at 200°C fan bake for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway. They won't be quite as crispy but still delicious.

Can I use frozen fish?

Absolutely - just defrost fully and pat dry before coating.

What other herbs can I use?

Dill or chives work really well with, or instead of parsley. Personally I love herbs so the more the merrier for me!

Storage:

Store leftovers fish bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. These are best reheated in the oven or air fryer to keep them crispy.

Top tips:

Don't overcrowd the pan. Cook the fish in batches so the fish stays crispy.
Keep the cooked fish warm in the oven on a low heat, while finishing batches.
Pat the fish dry before coating to help the crumbs stick better.
Use a neutral oil, like rice bran or canola oil. These have a high smoke point which is preferred for shallow frying.

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Crispy Panko Fish Bites with Tartare Sauce

Yield: Serves 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Fish bites coated in egg, flour and panko crumbs before being shallow fried in oil then served with homemade tartare sauce!

Ingredients

Fish Bites

800g firm white fish fillets, such as snapper, tarakihi or gurnard
½ cup flour
1 egg, beaten
½ cup panko crumbs
2 Tbsp Italian parsley, finely chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
Oil to fry

Tartare Sauce

¼ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp capers, finely chopped
2 small gherkins, finely chopped
1 spring onion, finely sliced
1 lemon (zest used above, juice for the sauce and serving)

Instructions

Tartare Sauce. Mix the mayonnaise, capers, gherkins and spring onion with the juice of half the lemon. Season with salt and pepper. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Fish Bites: Cut the fish into large bite-sized pieces.
Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with the beaten egg and one with panko crumbs mixed with parsley and lemon zest.
Coat the fish pieces in flour, then egg, then the panko mixture and season well.
Heat oil in a large frying pan. Cook the fish in batches until golden and crispy.
Serve immediately with tartare sauce and extra lemon wedges.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 391Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 529mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 37g

Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.

Thank you for checking out this recipe. I hope you enjoy making and eating it! If you have any questions, queries or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Vanya