Best 2 Oven Baked Fish Sticks With Easy Tartar Sauce Kid Friendly Recipes

**Oven-Baked Fish Sticks with Easy Tartar Sauce: A Kid-Friendly Delight**

Introducing a culinary adventure that will entice the taste buds of both young and old: oven-baked fish sticks paired with a luscious, homemade tartar sauce. This delectable dish is not only a hit among kids but also a healthier alternative to traditional fried fish sticks. Dive into the world of crispy fish sticks coated in a golden-brown breadcrumb crust, complemented by a tangy and creamy tartar sauce. This recipe offers a step-by-step guide to creating these oven-baked fish sticks and the accompanying tartar sauce, ensuring a fun and rewarding cooking experience. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will leave your family and friends craving more!

**Recipes Included:**

1. **Oven-Baked Fish Sticks:** This recipe takes you through the process of preparing tender and flaky fish sticks coated in a flavorful breadcrumb mixture, resulting in a crispy exterior and a succulent interior.

2. **Easy Tartar Sauce:** Learn how to make a classic tartar sauce from scratch using simple ingredients like mayonnaise, dill pickles, capers, and fresh herbs. This versatile sauce pairs perfectly with the fish sticks and adds a delightful tang to each bite.

3. **Kid-Friendly Variations:** Discover creative ways to make the fish sticks more appealing to children, such as using fun shapes, adding a sprinkle of cheese, or serving with their favorite dipping sauce.

4. **Healthy Alternatives:** Explore healthier options for preparing the fish sticks, including baking them instead of frying and using whole-wheat bread crumbs for a nutritious twist.

5. **Serving Suggestions:** Get ideas for presenting the oven-baked fish sticks in a fun and appealing way, such as serving them with colorful vegetable skewers or a side of homemade sweet potato fries.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BAKED FISH STICKS

Baked Fish Sticks image

Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network

Categories main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 pound firm-flesh white fish, such as cod, sliced into sticks about 1 inch by 3 inches
1/2 cup whole grain pastry flour (or white whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 slices whole grain bread (or sub 1 cup whole grain breadcrumbs)
1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional; if kids don't freak out)
1 large egg
Olive oil, in a spray bottle or mister (or nonstick vegetable spray)

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Salt and pepper the fish sticks. Place the flour on a rimmed plate and season with the garlic, mixing with a fork, and set aside.
Place the bread and herbs (if using) in a food processor and pulse until uniform, but not too small. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the breadcrumbs to a shallow baking dish or rimmed plate and set aside.
Whisk the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a medium bowl. Dredge a piece of fish in the flour, gently shake off excess, and then dip the fish in the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs, gently pressing into the crumbs. Repeat with the remaining pieces of fish.
Place a metal cooling rack on top of a baking sheet, and mist with olive oil. Place the fish sticks on the rack and bake until the fish is cooked through, about 12 minutes. (For even browning, you can turn the fish over halfway through cooking time and spray the second side with olive oil.)

CRISPY BAKED FISH WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Crispy Baked Fish With Tartar Sauce image

Charming fish shacks and salty sea air aren't a weeknight possibility for most of us, but thankfully, this recipe is. It features a clever technique from recipe developer Molly Kreuger: Creamy tartar sauce is spread on the fish to add flavor, keep the fillets moist during cooking and help the bread crumbs adhere to the fish. (Feel free to use your favorite tartar sauce in place of the one below.) The fish is baked until nearly cooked through, then broiled to toast the breadcrumb topping. The end result is crispy, creamy, tangy and moist, all of which is achieved without having to deal with a big pot of oil. Eat with more tartar sauce and a squeeze of lemon.

Provided by Ali Slagle

Categories dinner, weekday, seafood, main course

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
5 tablespoons capers, drained and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped pickles (such as cornichons or half sour)
2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon, dill or parsley
1 teaspoon Worcestershire or soy sauce
1 small garlic clove
1 large lemon
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
4 (6-ounce) thick white fish fillets, such as halibut or cod (skin on or off)

Steps:

Heat the oven to 400 degrees and set a rack in the upper part. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, capers, pickles, herbs and Worcestershire sauce. Using a Microplane, finely grate the garlic into the bowl, then grate in the zest of the lemon. (Hold onto the lemon; you'll use the juice later.) Stir to combine and season the tartar sauce to taste with salt and lots of pepper.
In a small bowl, stir together the panko and olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
Pat the fish dry on all sides and season lightly all over with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly greased or foil-lined sheet pan. Coat the top with a thin layer of the tartar sauce (a scant tablespoon per fillet). Sprinkle the panko evenly on top (about 2 tablespoons per fillet), pressing gently to adhere.
Bake the fish on the top rack until almost cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes for fillets between ½- and ¾-inch-thick (though you should check earlier, if using a thinner fish). An instant-read thermometer should read somewhere between 125 and 130 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the fish.
Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon juice from the lemon to the tartar sauce and cut the remaining lemon into 4 wedges for serving.
When the fish is nearly cooked through, switch the oven to broil. Broil the fish on the top rack until the bread crumbs are golden and the fish flakes easily and registers 140 degrees in the thickest part, 2 to 3 minutes. Eat with a spoonful of tartar sauce, more black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. (Any extra tartar sauce will keep for up to a week in the fridge.)

Tips:

Use fresh fish fillets. For the best results, use fresh fish fillets that are firm and opaque. Avoid fillets that are slimy or have a strong fishy odor.
Cut the fish fillets into even-sized pieces. This will help them cook evenly.
Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper. This will help to enhance their flavor.
Coat the fish fillets in flour, egg, and bread crumbs. This will help them to stay crispy when they are baked.
Bake the fish fillets at a high temperature. This will help them to cook quickly and evenly.
Serve the fish fillets with tartar sauce. Tartar sauce is a classic condiment for fish sticks. It can be made with mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, and capers.

Conclusion:

Oven-baked fish sticks are a quick and easy meal that is perfect for busy families. They are also a healthy alternative to fried fish sticks. Serve them with tartar sauce and your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or salad.