Crunchy Oven-Fried Fish

By Foodiewife

This recipe comes from America's Test Kitchen, and it's a keeper! You make your own bread crumbs, and season them with fresh herbs and shallots. The fish is coated with a seasoned egg/flour mixture and then baked for 20 minutes. The fish was moist and the breading was truly crunchy. We loved this-- and I am going to experiment with this coat for breaded zucchini.

Ingredients

• 4 large slices white sandwich bread , torn into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
• 1 small shallot , minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/4 cup plus 5 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish (optional)
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 1/4 pounds skinless cod fillet , or haddock fillet, or other thick white fish fillet (1 to 1 1/2 inches thick), cut into 4 pieces (see note)
• Lemon wedges

Preparation

Step 1

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.

Pulse bread, melted butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in food processor until bread is coarsely ground, eight 1-second pulses (you should have about 3 1/2 cups crumbs).

Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and bake until deep golden brown and dry, about 15 minutes, stirring twice during baking time. Cool crumbs to room temperature, about 10 minutes.

Transfer crumbs to pie plate; toss with parsley and shallot. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.

Place 1/4 cup flour in second pie plate.

In third pie plate, whisk eggs, horseradish (if using), mayonnaise, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until combined; whisk in remaining 5 tablespoons flour until smooth.

Spray wire rack with nonstick cooking spray and place in rimmed baking sheet.

Dry fish thoroughly with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

Dredge 1 fillet in flour; shake off excess.
Using hands, coat with egg mixture. Coat all sides of fillet with bread crumb mixture, pressing gently so that thick layer of crumbs adheres to fish.

Transfer breaded fish to wire rack. Repeat with remaining 3 fillets.

Bake fish until instant-read thermometer inserted into centers of fillets registers 140 degrees, 18 to 25 minutes.

Using thin spatula, transfer fillets to individual plates and serve immediately with lemon wedges.