In the realm of culinary delights, fried walleye with tartar sauce stands as a testament to the harmonious union of flavors and textures. This classic dish, often associated with lakeside dining and summer gatherings, offers a symphony of crispy coating, flaky fish, and tangy sauce that tantalizes the taste buds. As you embark on this culinary journey, discover the secrets to achieving perfectly fried walleye, complemented by a homemade tartar sauce that elevates the experience. From selecting the freshest fish to mastering the art of breading and frying, this comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions to ensure success. Along the way, explore variations of the classic recipe, including baked walleye and walleye fingers, each offering unique twists on this beloved dish.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CRUNCHY-COATED WALLEYE
Potato flakes make a golden coating for these fish fillets, which are a breeze to fry on the stovetop. -Sondra Ostheimer, Boscobel, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a shallow bowl, combine flour, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Dip both sides of fillets in flour mixture and eggs, then coat with potato flakes. , In a large skillet, fry fillets in oil for 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 566 calories, Fat 24g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 326mg cholesterol, Sodium 508mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 55g protein.
BEST FRIED WALLEYE
Steps:
- Check the fillets to ensure all bones and skin have been removed. Cut the fillets into manageable pieces, if necessary.
- Place the beaten eggs a bowl and set aside. Combine the flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl. Pour the cracker crumbs into a third bowl.
- Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Dip the fillets into the flour mixture, then the eggs, and then the cracker crumbs and set fillets aside on a plate. Test the oil: it will crackle and pop when a cracker crumb is dropped into it. Carefully lower 2 fillets into the hot oil. Cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side, using tongs to turn the fillets. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining fillets. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 591.7 calories, Carbohydrate 40.2 g, Cholesterol 229.4 mg, Fat 30.6 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 38.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 492.1 mg, Sugar 0.5 g
FRIED WALLEYE WITH TARTAR SAUCE
I love to eat fish and I think this is a great way to make it. The coating adheres nicely and cooks to a lovely golden brown. With the homemade tartar sauce this meal is as good as when you eat out.-Carolyn Turner, Reno, Nevada
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings (1-1/4 cups sauce).
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; chill until serving., For fish, in a shallow bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Combine the ice water and 2 tablespoons oil; whisk into the dry ingredients just until smooth., In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°. Dip fillets in batter, turning to coat; allow excess batter to drip off. Fry fillets, a few at a time, for 5-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork. Drain on paper towels. Serve with sauce and lemon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 601 calories, Fat 45g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 108mg cholesterol, Sodium 678mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 24g protein.
FRIED WALLEYE SANDWICHES ON HOMEMADE POTATO BUNS
Steps:
- Heat 2 inches oil in a Dutch oven to 365 degrees F.
- Whisk 1 1/2 cups buttermilk and 1 tablespoon crab boil seasoning in a nonreactive baking dish just large enough to hold the walleye. Add the walleye and turn to coat, then let sit while the oil heats, about 10 minutes.
- Stir together the flour, cornmeal, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and remaining 2 teaspoons crab boil seasoning in a shallow bowl or container. Drizzle in the remaining 3 tablespoons buttermilk, a tablespoon at a time, and toss to make small clumps.
- When the oil reaches 365 degrees F, remove the fillets from the buttermilk and dredge in the flour. Return the dredged filets to the buttermilk mixture, then do a final dredge in the flour mixture. Add two fillets to the oil, one at a time, and fry in batches of two, turning once or twice, until very crisp and deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove to the rack and season with salt.
- To assemble, spread the bottoms of the Buns with some of the Tartar Sauce. Top each with a piece of fried walleye, squeeze of lemon, a dollop more of Tartar Sauce, lettuce and pickles. Serve immediately.
- Put the potato in a medium saucepan with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 18 minutes. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup potato cooking water. Let the water cool until lukewarm (90 to 100 degrees F).
- Use a ricer or food mill to puree the warm potato into the bowl of a stand mixer. (You can also mash with a masher; just make sure to get the potatoes very smooth.) Add the butter, honey and salt to the warm potatoes and stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add 1 egg, the yeast and the lukewarm cooking water. Mix with the dough hook on low speed to combine.
- Add 3 1/2 cups of the flour and mix on low to combine. Knead on medium-high speed, adding up to 1/4 cup more flour, if needed, to make a smooth, slightly sticky dough that forms a loose ball on the dough hook, 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the dough onto a floured countertop and knead a few times to make a smooth ball. Oil a large bowl, add the ball and turn to coat. Cover loosely and let rise until doubled in size, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Punch the dough down. Dust a clean, flat work surface with flour. Turn out the dough and cut it into 8 equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time, pinch the dough under itself to form a ball. With the pinched side down, cup your hands under the dough and rotate on the counter to form a smooth ball. Use one hand to roll the ball into a 4-inch-long oval roll. Place on a lined baking sheet and repeat with the remaining balls of dough. Cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let rise until light and airy looking, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Place an oven rack in the lower and upper third positions. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- When the dough has completed the second rise, beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water in a small bowl and gently brush the rolls with the egg wash. Sprinkle with the poppy seeds. Bake, rotating from top to bottom and back to front halfway through, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Rolls can be made a day ahead. For longer storage, wrap and freeze.
- Combine the mayonnaise, pickles, brine, parsley, tarragon and garlic powder in a small bowl. Season to taste, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
CORN CEREAL CRUSTED FRIED FISH
Corn cereal is slightly sweet and extra crunchy, which holds up well to the walleye-a mild flaky whitefish common in the upper Midwest-though feel free to sub out any mild flaky whitefish. The smokiness and tanginess of the tartar sauce balances all the flavors out.
Provided by Molly Yeh
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- For the tartar sauce: In a medium mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, yogurt, relish, mustard, parsley, smoked paprika, garlic powder and cayenne and stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Makes about 1 cup.)
- For the fish: Put the corn cereal flakes in a large resealable plastic bag. Crush with your hands or a rolling pin to make medium size crumbs (the mixture should be a little finer than oatmeal). Pour into a shallow bowl and stir in the paprika. Spread the flour in a second bowl and beat the eggs in a third bowl with 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Season the fish all over with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Dredge in the flour, then the eggs, then roll in the cereal crumbs, patting them on to coat evenly.
- Heat about 1/2 inch of neutral oil in a large skillet (cast iron or otherwise) over medium heat. The oil is ready when a cereal crumb sizzles on contact. Standing a safe distance away from the stovetop, slide the breaded fish into the oil and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and cook the second side until golden, 2 to 3 minutes more. Drain on paper towels and season with salt. Serve hot with the tartar sauce and lemon wedges. The fish is best eaten right away but leftover tartar sauce will keep, covered, in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
FRIED OYSTERS WITH TARTAR SAUCE
Getting fried oysters from your summer seafood shack is fun, but making them yourself yields something crispy, light and, most significantly, tender. Shuck carefully, bread delicately and fry to golden perfection, then serve with this bright, lively tartar sauce, which gets its spark from cornichons, capers and lemon juice. Eat while hot - whether you're wearing flip flops or polished oxfords, that's up to you.
Provided by Gabrielle Hamilton
Categories appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 24 oysters and 1 pint sauce
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Prepare the oysters: Season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge each oyster in the flour, then dip in the beaten egg, then coat evenly in the panko.
- Set breaded oysters on a baking cooling rack, leaving a little room between the oysters so they can dry and set. Refrigerate until ready to fry and serve.
- Make the sauce: Finely mince garlic with a pinch of salt until sticky and pasty. Mince shallots, cornichons and capers as finely as possible. Add all to a small bowl. Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, caper brine and cornichon vinegar, and stir well. Add chopped parsley, stir well and season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Fry the oysters: Melt enough shortening in a deep medium skillet (we love cast iron) over medium for 1 1/2 inches of liquified fat once hot. Increase heat to medium-high. It's ready to fry in when a few crumbs of panko or the tip of a wooden chopstick sizzles actively in the fat.
- Add the oysters cold from the refrigerator, working in batches of 6 to 8 or as you have room. Fry, making sure to turn them to get both sides, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider, and let rest on a clean rack while you fry the rest. Season each batch with a little salt while still piping hot, as soon as you pull them from the fat. Serve with tartar sauce.
Tips:
- Use fresh walleye fillets for the best flavor and texture.
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- To make sure the walleye is cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve the fried walleye with tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and your favorite sides.
- For a healthier version of this recipe, you can bake the walleye instead of frying it. Simply preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the walleye fillets for 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through.
Conclusion:
Fried walleye with tartar sauce is a classic American dish that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple yet delicious recipe that can be made with just a few ingredients. Whether you are a beginner cook or a seasoned pro, this recipe is sure to please. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give fried walleye with tartar sauce a try.
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