Haddock is a popular saltwater fish that tastes delicious when it’s either grilled or deep fried. Its creamy meat and natural flavor go well with any garnish. You can experience the taste of this delicious pan fried fish by following this inspired Cracker Barrel haddock recipe. This pan fried fish recipe recreates their signature fried haddock dish that’s breaded and seasoned to perfection. Serve this light, crispy, and savory fish fry with some lemon wedges and mixed vegetables for a satisfying meal.
Tips on Making Fried Haddock Fillets Just Like Cracker Barrel
This copycat pan fried haddock recipe from Cracker Barrel is a quick and easy dish to make. Simply coat each haddock filet with the seasoned flour with milk and egg mixture, and then pan fry until it’s crisp and golden brown. But you can make your fried haddock fillets even better with some of our helpful tips listed down below. With just a few adjustments and additions, this deep fried fish will taste a hundred times better!
- Use fresh haddock fillets. Haddock is one of the best fish to fry since it cooks easily, especially when it’s fresh and tender. You can also use frozen fish, but make sure it’s fully thawed beforehand. If needed, use paper towels to pat dry each haddock fillet. Too much excess moisture can prevent the fish from crisping up. That’s why we recommend using fresh fish fillets because the frozen ones tend to release a lot of excess water as it thaws.
- Add cornstarch in the flour mixture for an extra layer of crispy fish breading. For the best fried fish fillet dish, we suggest mixing in a tablespoon of cornstarch. You can even go as far as substituting the all purpose flour with cornstarch. If you really want that deep golden brown color with a crispier coating, then cornstarch is the way to go.
- Use breadcrumbs as a substitute for cornmeal. You can skip out on the milk and cornmeal, and just use egg and breadcrumbs to bind the crumb topping. Breadcrumbs produce a lighter crunch while cornmeal has a grittier, firmer, and crunchier coating. But, if you prefer a light crispy feel, then use breadcrumbs instead, and try mixing in about ¼ cup of parmesan cheese so it’s extra flavorful.
- Add in more seasonings like onion powder and garlic powder into the fish breading mixture. You can choose to add both of these in, or switch it out with the paprika and cayenne for a less spicier alternative. A few pinches of garlic and onion powder will give your haddock fillets a much fuller flavor with its subtle hints of garlic and onion taste.
- Pair with a dipping sauce. Besides the lemon slices, this copycat Cracker Barrel haddock recipe will taste even better with tangy dips like this dill sauce or tartar sauce. Savory dishes like this fried haddock always taste best with a bit of tartness, and the crispy texture really compliments the creaminess of the dip. Or, go for the classic lemon butter or garlic butter sauce that you can also use both as a dip or a sauce to drizzle all over your fish fillets.
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Source: https://recipes.net/main-dish/seafood/fried-haddock-fillets-just-like-cracker-barrel-recipe/
