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Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks with Herb Dipping Sauce

To make fish sticks, cut tilapia fillets in half lengthwise down center line. Halve again lengthwise, then crosswise.
Everyday Food, May 2007
  • Prep Time 20 minutes
  • Total Time 35 minutes
  • Yield Serves 4
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Ingredients

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 2 cups panko
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets, cut into wide strips (see note, above)
  • 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
  • 2 teaspoons prepared white horseradish

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 475, with racks in top and bottom third. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil; set aside.

  2. Place egg in a wide shallow bowl; season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine panko, Old Bay, and oil. Dip tilapia into egg, shaking off excess, then into panko mixture, pressing to adhere. Place on prepared baking sheets.

  3. Bake until lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes, rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, parsley, mustard, lemon juice, and horseradish; season with salt and pepper. Serve fish sticks with sauce and lemon wedges on the side.

Recipe Reviews

  • cheftb
    6 Jan, 2013

    This was delicious and very easy to make. I paired it with corn on the cob. Also, I didn' t add the horseradish. I just added a little bit of sweet pickle relish instead.

  • tangoa24
    26 Sep, 2012

    This is a HUGE HIT in my house. Definitely our go-to quick and easy fish recipe. I often substitute thyme for parsley for a little punch of flavor. If I'm feeling really crazy I'll make some home made french fries for a fish and chips night. The dipping sauce is CRAZY GOOD. There is never any leftover. The entire family is scraping the last bits of that sauce with whatever food is left - or just with fingers! So good!

  • sandraonjamison
    26 Mar, 2012

    I made this exactly as the recipe was written including the dipping sauce. My family loved it! The kids couldn't get enough! It is very good. :)

  • betsyrisch
    16 Oct, 2011

    These turned out delicious, but I wish they would have turned out more "golden brown" as they appear in the photo. They were still a bit light in color after 12 minutes. I could not leave them in the oven longer, or the fish would have been dried out. Any ideas, anyone?

  • LElizabeth
    3 Mar, 2011

    This was easy and delicious! I made it with "dabs" from our weekly fish share, and the recipe worked perfectly. I omitted the horseradish from the sauce, and I still really enjoyed it, it didn't seem like it was lacking for flavor. We had a green salad with it and it was a great, easy dinner. This one is going into the rotation . . .

  • rlcurry1
    2 Nov, 2010

    I really love this recipe. I make it with orange roughy fillets and use lemon pepper (about a tablespoon) instead of the old bay and it is delicious. I usually keep individually frozen fish fillets in my freezer and this is one of my go to meals - quick and fresh.

  • LPerlman
    20 Jul, 2010

    OK, Everyone cringed when I said I was making fish sticks. I have 2 teenager who are not fish eaters for the most part but they really liked this. We made the sauce with cilantro instead of parsley and loved it. The fish was so easy and delicious. I will make this again whithout a doubt.

  • TracyLH
    27 Apr, 2010

    My 14 year old son, the gourmet, loved these and my 11 year old ridiculously picky 11 year old daughter gobbled them up and asked for more. (Trust me, that does not happen). I, myself, was very happy with them as well. This will most assuredly join the dinner repetoire.

  • Uccellini
    4 Feb, 2010

    I use this same recipe to make fish tacos. Instead of parsley, I add cilantro to the sauce, and serve with shredded cabbage and a little bit of hot sauce. It's a favorite at our house.

  • bossraines
    13 Jan, 2010

    Really good, even my young kids ate it! I used Basa fillets.

  • smd1227
    13 Jan, 2010

    You'll probably find the panko in your market either with the breadcrumbs or in the Asian isle. They are Japanese freeze-dried bread flakes and make everything every crispy. Add a little pickle relish to the sauce and it's the BEST tartar sauce you ever had.

  • elimas340
    25 Oct, 2009

    The was very good. My family really liked it. I used to make frozen fish sticks... not anymore. It makes me feel good to serve something so easy and good for them.

  • gailg0404
    21 May, 2009

    For the panko look near breadcrumbs on the store shelf. Even Safeway carries them. they make everything taste better

  • gailg0404
    21 May, 2009

    This sounds liket it would make a delicous fish taco . Just add shredded cabbage and a taco shell (soft flour or corn)

  • Kadre
    29 Oct, 2008

    Fabulous recipe-easy and tasty. My 2year old also loves it! We often can't find panko, so I crush up organic corn flakes, and that is also super tasty. Tilapia filets are also hard to find here, so I make this with cod, and it works perfectly.

  • audreymvp
    26 Aug, 2008

    This meal was so easy and VERY VERY good. My fiance and I will never go back to eating regular fish sticks..and the sauce is amazing!

  • gracieb83
    7 May, 2008

    This was VERY good and easy. I like spice so I added a couple healthy shakes of hot sauce to my egg and to the sauce, but omitted the horseraddish (because I didn't have any). This is a wonderful fast meal

  • joylovec
    17 Apr, 2008

    Panko is Japanese Bread Crumbs, you can get them almost anywhere. Trader Joes has them . They are delicious. I also use them for making chicken nuggets. Yum

  • Kittywampus
    16 Apr, 2008

    Panko? I asked that once too. I was told it is like saltine crackers.

  • cookielover5
    15 Apr, 2008

    What is panko?

  • katefenster
    14 Apr, 2008

    My family LOVES this recipe! it is so easy - my 2 1/2 year old helped me put it together - and everyone just gobbled it up :)

  • katefenster
    14 Apr, 2008

    My family LOVES this recipe! it is so easy - my 2 1/2 year old helped me put it together - and everyone just gobbled it up :)

  • amihanjoy
    11 Apr, 2008

    wow! such an easy recipe. Id love to try this for my husband lunch pack

  • ehguy11
    15 Feb, 2008

    Very quick...I had the fish breaded and the Herb Dipping Sauce ready to go before the oven reached 475 degrees! I made a garden salad while it baked in the oven, then dinner was ready! Delicious too!