Spicy fish sticks

This spicy fish sticks recipe has a dash of curry powder in the crumb. It's perfect for when you start to introduce your family to more exciting foods. It all looks familiar but has great new flavours to explore.

The whole dish looks familiar - most kids love fish and chips! - but it offers great new flavours to explore.

If you've never made fish sticks at home before, you're in for a treat!

Not only are they much tastier than the store-bought variety, they're also great fun to makes as you dip the fish from flour, to egg to breadcrumbs.

This recipe is from my debut cookbook Get Your Kids to Eat Anything, which contains 70 recipes and a 5-phase programme to help you and your kids become more adventurous with food.

Here's how to make these spicy fish sticks.

Instructions

Slice the cod into 2cm (¾in) thick fingers.

In a small dish, mix the pepper, garlic granules and spices together.

Set up 3 bowls: the first containing the flour, the second the egg and the third the breadcrumbs.

Stir half the spice mix into the flour and half into the breadcrumbs.

First, dip a fish piece into the flour to lightly cover. Shake off the excess.

Second, dip the fish into the egg to coat.

Third, dip the fish into the breadcrumbs to cover.

Repeat with every piece of fish, placing on an oiled baking tray as you go.

Spritz all over with oil spray.

Bake for 12–14 minutes until just golden.

Break one open to check the fish is cooked through. Now your amazing homemade spicy fish sticks are ready to serve!

Serve with sweet potato chips and enjoy!

If your family are keen on spice, next time, try upping the cumin level and adding a little chilli powder for a more pronounced kick.

Once you’ve got the hang of the crumbing method, you can flavour the crumbs to your liking. How about a lemon and herb crumb for breaded chicken goujons?

Have fun!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect spicy fish sticks

Are spicy fish sticks easy to make?

Spicy fish sticks are very easy to make from scratch, even if you have never breaded fish before.

With a little care and attention, you will end up with spicy fish sticks that look and taste amazing - much, much better than store-bought!

Will I need any special equipment to make spicy fish sticks?

You won't need any specialist equipment to make this dish.

However, if you are buying a fillet of cod with the skin still on, then a very sharp flexible knife will help make the job easier.

Where can I buy skinless cod fillets?

All major supermarkets stock cod fillets.

You can also buy cod fillets from practically any fishmongers, who will usually be more than happy to skin and bone the cod for you, so don't be afraid to ask!

If you prefer to have a go at removing the skin from a fillet of fish yourself then this instructional video from Gordon Ramsey will be of tremendous help.

How can I tell if my cod has gone off?

It's really important that all food intended for human consumption is stored and prepared safely. The NHS has great advice on best practice in food safety as well as specific advice to consider when preparing and serving fish.

As a general rule, the first step in making sure your fresh cod is safe to eat is to feel outside of the cod, if it feels slimy then discard it.

Very fresh cod doesn't smell very much, but will have an increasingly 'fishy' smell as it begins to age.

If it smells very fishy or in any way seems 'off' or unpleasant compared to normal then discard it.

Finally, if your cod has a 'use by' (rather than a 'sell by' or 'best before' date) on it, and that date has passed, then discard the cod.

You should also heed any advice given on the packaging, and any additional advice given by your health professional.

Are spicy fish sticks suitable for vegetarians? What about vegans?

This recipe is not suitable for vegetarians due to the use of cod fillets.

If you would like to make the recipe vegetarian, you could replace the fish with tofu strips wrapped in a sheet of water-soaked nori.

If you're vegan, then you could do as above but replace the egg with a flour and water batter.

Are spicy fish sticks gluten-free?

This recipe is not gluten-free as it contains wheat-based flour and breadcrumbs.

However, if you'd like to make this recipe gluten-free, you can do so by replacing the plain flour and breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives.

Gluten-free breadcrumbs can be tricky to find in the shops, so if you can't get hold of some, you can make your own by placing chunks of dry, gluten-free bread in a food processor and pulsing until you have breadcrumbs.

You might like to toss your homemade breadcrumbs in a sieve over the sink so any very tiny pieces are removed, which will lead to a more crunchy texture.

Some products that do not naturally contain gluten, may still contain traces of gluten via factory cross-contamination. Therefore, you should check the packaging on all of the ingredients to make sure they are safe for those with gluten-intolerance or coeliac disease.

Are spicy fish sticks chips healthy?

While this dish may not quite be a salad of dark, leafy greens, it's definitely healthier than a portion of fish and chips from the chippy!

Thanks to the odd tweak such as baking everything rather than frying, these spicy fish sticks have plenty of nutrients without being too high in fat.

This means it's a good option as part of a healthy family meal when served with a good portion of veg.

What goes well with spicy fish sticks?

You should definitely serve this recipe with sweet potato chips!

Other classics such as fresh peas, homemade mushy peas or baked beans are always a winner in our household, as are condiments like malt vinegar and tartar sauce a must.

If you're a Doctor Who fan, then you may even want to try this dish with custard, but I wouldn't recommend it!

Can I make health spicy fish sticks without breadcrumbs?

The curry-spiced breadcrumbs in this recipe are what gives the spicy fish sticks their classic crunch and unique taste.

However, if you don't have breadcrumbs, you could simply dip the fish back into the spiced flour after egging. It won't be quite the same dish, but should still be tasty.

I haven’t got cod, can I use another fish?

Any white fish will work a treat if cod isn't available. Hake, haddock or pollock would all be delicious.

Salmon would also work well. You could also get a little further from the ordinary and try something like Dutch Yellowtail.

Can I add extra seasoning to this recipe?

The first time you make this recipe, I'd recommend sticking to the recommended amounts so that you get a feel for the flavour-balance - the hint of spice and heat, complimenting but not overpowering the delicate fish.

The next time you make it, you can tweak the dish according to your preference. For example, you could add extra chilli to bring up the heat.

What oils can I use to make spicy fish sticks?

As the spicy fish sticks in this recipe are baked rather than fried, you don't need very much oil at all.

Pretty much any spray oil will do, from vegetable or olive oil spray, to the low-calorie-style oil sprays.

As you are baking rather than frying, you won't need to worry about smoke points as the oil won't be getting super hot.

Can I fry spicy fish sticks?

It is possible to shallow fry the spicy fish sticks in vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pan.

Heat the oil to 180C/350F and carefully place the fish in the pan, turning occasionally with a metal spatula or metal tongs.

Once the oil temperature rises to around 190C/375F the spicy fish sticks should be ready and the internal temperature should be at least 55C/130F.

You can keep your spicy fish sticks warm as you work through the batches by placing them on a tray in a low oven.

Drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.

Remember that if you fry the fish, it will increase the fat content of the recipe considerably. Personally, I find baking them much easier!

Can I use the leftover breadcrumbs/egg mix?

You can’t store or reuse any of the ingredients you used during the process of breading your fish, as it will have come into contact with raw fish.

However, if you're making something you'd like to bread at the same time, such as onion rings, it is safe to use the same bowls, as long as you make sure everything is cooked immediately and safely.

If you're not sure how long you're left your crumbing mixtures sitting out, it's best to err on the side of caution and discard them.

Can I keep my cooked fish sticks recipe in the refrigerator?

This is the kind of dish that is best served piping hot and fresh out of the oven.

However, if you do have any leftovers, you can store them the fridge for up to 2 days.

Be sure to put everything in an airtight container and into the fridge within two hours of coming out of the oven.

What is the best way to reheat spicy fish sticks?

It is possible to reheat this recipe, but you may notice a change to the texture of the fish.

To reheat place in a preheated oven at 180C until completely warmed through.

Why did my spicy fish sticks turn out dry or overcooked?

This is almost invariably because the oven temperature was too hot or the spicy fish sticks were in for too long, so double check your cooking times and oven temperature are correct.

If you're absolutely sure that they are then it could be that the dial on your oven is incorrect, so use an oven thermometer to correctly calibrate your oven.

Why did my spicy fish sticks turn out wet, soft or under-cooked?

As this particular recipe one uses flour, eggs and breadcrumbs rather than a pancake-style batter, it's much less likely to go wrong and you should end up deliciously crispy spicy fish sticks.

However, if you have sprayed too much oil on them (or the tray), or got a lot of egg in the breadcrumbs, then this might lead to sogginess or a less crisp coating.

The spicy fish sticks will release a little steam while cooking too, so also make sure not to overcrowd the tray you are cooking them in.

You can try cooking the spicy fish sticks a little bit longer if the crumb is soft, but break one open first and check if it's done, as you won't want to overcook your cod.

Where do spicy fish sticks / fish sticks come from?

The term 'spicy fish sticks' goes back a long way, at least to 1900 when the Tamworth Herald lists a recipe for 'spicy fish sticks' that's very close to the modern equivalent! However, that version uses already cooked fish and pads it out with rice.

Here's the recipe in case you would like to give it a go. I confess I haven't tried it!

TASTY fish fingers - A very useful breakfast dish can be prepared as follows: Flake and mince any cold cooked fish very finely, and mix it with two-thirds its bulk of cold cooked rice; season to taste with pepper, salt, and minced parsley, mixing it into cakes with the white of an egg; shape these neatly, brush with beaten egg, cover with breadcrumbs, and fry in plenty of hot fat to a delicate golden brown; drain well, and serve.

Tamworth Herald, Saturday 30 June 1900

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