Crispy Cod Sandwiches with Red Onion Tartar Sauce

I think a really good fish sandwich has two key features: crispy coating and a rich, creamy sauce. That’s where panko, cornmeal, and homemade tartar sauce come in.

Dry, crispy panko breadcrumbs mixed with cornmeal ensure a crunchy crust on the filets, and an easy tartar sauce made with minced red onion and dill relish adds savory, tangy taste and cool, creamy texture.

Cod filets are readily available and are great for coating. But you can use other mild, flaky whitefish, such as haddock or orange roughy, to make these sandwiches.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp light mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp finely chopped red onion
• 1 tbsp dill pickle relish
• 1 tsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup panko, or other fine, dry breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 6-oz skinless cod filets, about 1/2-inch thick
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 sandwich buns or kaiser rolls, lightly toasted
• tomato and dill pickle slices, and lettuce greens, for serving

Tartar Sauce Ingredients

Cod Filets

Preparation

1. Combine the mayonnaise, red onion, relish, parsley, and mustard in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
2. Stir together the panko and cornmeal in a baking dish. Whisk the egg and mustard together in a shallow bowl.

Mixed Tartar Sauce Ingredients

Red Onion Tartar Sauce

Crispy Coating Ingredients

1. Dip each piece of fish in the egg mixture until well coated. Let the excess drip off, then press the fish into the panko mixture, turning to coat both sides.
2. Place the filets on a plate and refrigerate 15-20 minutes. (Refrigeration helps the breading stick to the fish during cooking.)
3. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper and fry until golden and crispy on the bottom, 3-4 minutes.
4. Turn and fry until golden and crispy on the other side and cooked through, 2-3 minutes longer.
5. Lay the buns cut-side up on a work surface and spread all 4 sides with tartar sauce. Place 1 filet on each bottom half and top with tomato, pickles, and lettuce greens.

Cod with Coating

Fish Beginning to Fry

Fried Cod 

Tartar Sauce on the Buns

Fish and Toppings Added

 Top the sandwiches and serve right away.

Crispy Cod Sandwiches with Red Onion Tartar Sauce