Homemade Crispy Salmon Fish Sticks
Looking for a way to elevate a simple can of salmon into something both delicious and family-friendly? These easy crispy salmon fish sticks are just what you need! They’re golden, crispy, and bursting with flavor. Plus, they’re surprisingly easy to make using pantry staples and a straightforward method.
Ingredients
- 1 can salmon 14.75 oz
- ¼ cup self-rising cornmeal
- ½ cup flour
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Coconut oil for shallow frying I would not use olive oil because of it's low smoke point
Instructions
- Start by draining the salmon and transferring it to the bowl of a stand mixer. This step ensures that excess liquid doesn’t dilute the mixture.
- Combine the salmon, self-rising cornmeal, flour, eggs, and salt using the paddle attachment. Mix everything together until it’s fully incorporated and forms a cohesive mixture.
- Once the mixture is ready, scoop it into a quart-sized freezer plastic bag. A freezer bag is essential here because it’s durable and won’t burst when squeezed. This makes piping the fish sticks a breeze.
- Add about ½ cup of coconut oil to a cast iron skillet or frying pan and turn to medium-high heat. Allow the oil to get hot, but not smoking. To test if the oil is ready, drop a small amount of the mixture into the pan—it should sizzle immediately.
- Cut a small tip off the corner of the freezer bag, creating an opening about ¾ inch wide. Carefully pipe the fish stick mixture into the hot skillet, keeping the sticks about 3–4 inches long.
- Pipe as many fish sticks as the skillet can comfortably hold, leaving enough space to flip them easily. Fry each side until golden brown, about 3–5 minutes per side.
- Once the fish sticks are cooked, use tongs to remove them from the skillet and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Repeat the process until you’ve used all the mixture.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Notes
This recipe makes about 20–25 fish sticks, depending on their size.
Store any extra fish sticks in an airtight container in the fridge. An air fryer is the perfect way to heat up your left overs.
The oil needs to be hot enough to sizzle when the fish stick mixture hits it. If it’s not sizzling, give it more time to heat up.
Hot oil can splatter, so use caution when piping the mixture and flipping the fish sticks.
Add your favorite seasonings, like paprika, garlic powder, or a pinch of cayenne, to the mixture for great flavor.