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Home » Recipes

Delicious Cod Sandwich Inspired By Filet-O-Fish!

Oct 23, 2021Last Modified: January 19, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make a DELICIOUS MELT IN YOUR MOUTH Cod Sandwich inspired by the one and only Filet-O-Fish!

Cod Sandwich with melting cheese and lots of tartar sauce
Jump to:
  • Some History Behind The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
  • Details About The Delicious Filet-O-Fish!
  • Cod Sandwich Inspired By Mickey D's Classic Sandwich
  • What Ingredients Will I Need For This Cod Sandwich?
  • The Method To Make This Cod Sandwich
  • Enjoy This Fish Sandwich Inspired By The Much Beloved Filet-O-Fish!
  • Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!
  • Delicious Cod Sandwich Inspired By Filet-O-Fish!

Some History Behind The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Sandwich

McDonald's is world famous for its burgers, but believe me it has it's Filet-O-Fish fans, of which I am one. Who doesn't desire a deliciously spiced and delicate piece of fish, served with cheese and tartar sauce, and nestled between soft buns??

The Filet-O-Fish was introduced in the 1960's and has a Catholic history! It was invented by Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchise owner in Ohio. He created this sandwich as a way to gain some business from the mostly Catholic population in his area. They tended to not eat meat during Lent, so a fish sandwich was a great alternative for them. Here is a fantastic article from Smithsonian about the history of the Filet-O-Fish! The article states that McDonald's sells around 300 million Filet-O-Fish each year, and that about 23% of them are sold during Lent!

Details About The Delicious Filet-O-Fish!

So here are some details about the sandwich:

  • McDonald's uses wild caught sustainably sourced Alaskan Pollock for their sandwich.
  • The cheese used is American cheese
  • The buns are steamed and not toasted

Mashed.com has a fantastic article called "This Is Why McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Is So Delicious." It's very interesting reading!

The Filet-O-Fish is incredible and that's why it inspired my fish sandwich!

Cod Sandwich Inspired By Mickey D's Classic Sandwich

My Cod Sandwich is my take on this famous classic with a few tweaks! I am using cod instead of Alaskan pollock, and I add more American cheese than what McDonald's does. 😃

This Cod Sandwich is also much more generously sized than the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish...so we may need to loosen our belts a bit. 😅

I am staying true to my inspiration by steaming the buns, frying the fish, and using American cheese. The resulting sandwich is MELT IN YOUR MOUTH DELICIOUS!

What Ingredients Will I Need For This Cod Sandwich?

It's super easy to make this delicious dish! Here is what you will need:

  • Cod
  • Salt and pepper
  • Burger buns
  • Flour
  • Panko
  • Egg
  • American cheese
  • Tartar sauce (I used Kraft)
  • Vegetable oil or canola oil for frying
Cod loins and flour on a white plate, whisked egg and fork in a white bowl, panko in a white bowl, and slices of American cheese
A hand holding a bottle of Kraft Tartar sauce with cod and whisked egg in the background

I used Kraft Tartar Sauce, but by all means use your favorite tartar sauce. I wish I knew the secret to McDonald's fine tartar sauce but unfortunately I don't!

So now let's get ready to make this melt in your mouth fish sandwich!

The Method To Make This Cod Sandwich

It couldn't be easier to make this dish! Start by seasoning your fish with salt and pepper. Then dredge the fish in flour, shaking off the excess.

Cod dredged in flour with whisked egg and panko in the background in white bowls

Next you will dip each piece of fish in whisked egg (letting the excess run off) and then coat it in panko which has been pulverized in a food processor.

  • cod dredged in flour and dipped in whisked egg
  • Cod dredged in flour dipped in egg then coated with panko

In the meantime, heat up some water and place a steamer or steaming basket over it. This will be used to steam your buns and get the cheese melty.

Heat up the oil in a cast iron pan (preferably) until it is shimmering hot. Then fry both sides for around 2-4 minutes per side until they are cooked through and beautifully golden brown!

Cod frying in oil turning golden brown
Aren't they gorgeous?

When the fish is nearly finished cooking, the water in your steam bath should be ready for your buns! Gently place the buns in your steamer and add some of the American cheese to the bottom half. Steam the buns until nice and warm and the cheese is starting to melt. I had to do mine one set at a time due to limited space in my steamer.

Burger buns in a steam bath with American cheese slices on the bottom half

Drain the fish on paper towels when finished cooking. Then lay the fish on top of the melted cheese, top with tartar sauce, and behold a thing of beauty.

Cod Sandwich with melting cheese and lots of tartar sauce

Enjoy This Fish Sandwich Inspired By The Much Beloved Filet-O-Fish!

This is seriously luxuriantly melt in your mouth good. As you can see, I am generous with the tartar sauce, but feel free to add as much or as little as you like.

Cod Sandwich with melting cheese and lots of tartar sauce

I recommend serving a nice, light, and less calorific side salad to go along with this sandwich.

Bon appetit!!

Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!

Chicken Sandwich Inspired By Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with bacon, pepper jack cheese, tomato, lettuce, honey mustard dressing in a kaiser roll

Doc Martin's Inspired Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

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If you make this dish and like it I would be honored if you could comment below!

Cheers!

Grace

Cod Sandwich with melting cheese and lots of tartar sauce

Delicious Cod Sandwich Inspired By Filet-O-Fish!

Grace
This is a melt in your mouth delicious Cod Sandwich inspired by the one and only McDonald's Filet-O-Fish!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 7 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 1603 kcal

Equipment

  • Cast iron pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb cod cut into 2 pieces for 2 sandwiches
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 burger buns
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • ¾ cup panko
  • 1 egg whisked
  • 4 slices Pasteurized American cheese 2 slices per sandwich
  • Tartar sauce amount used is up to you! I used Kraft Tartar Sauce
  • 1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil

Instructions
 

  • Start by seasoning your fish (cut into 2 pieces for 2 sandwiches) generously with salt and pepper. Then dredge the fish in flour, shaking off the excess.
    Cod dredged in flour with whisked egg and panko in the background in white bowls
  • Pulverize the panko in a food processor.
    panko that has been pulverized in a food processor
  • Next you will dip each piece of fish in whisked egg (letting the excess run off).
    cod dredged in flour and dipped in whisked egg
  • Coat the fish in panko which has been pulverized in a food processor.
    Cod dredged in flour dipped in egg then coated with panko
  • In the meantime, heat up some water and place a steamer or steaming basket over it. This will be used to steam your buns and get the cheese melty.
  • Heat up the oil in a cast iron pan (preferably) until it is shimmering hot (around med-high heat). Then fry both sides for around 2-4 minutes per side until they are cooked through and beautifully golden brown! The thicker your cod is the longer you will need to cook each side for. Mine were quite thick and took around 4 minutes for each side.
    Cod frying in oil turning golden brown
  • When the fish is nearly finished cooking, the water in your steam bath should be ready for your buns! Gently place the buns in your steamer and add some of the American cheese to the bottom half. Steam the buns until nice and warm and the cheese is starting to melt. I had to do mine one set at a time due to limited space in my steamer.
    Burger buns in a steam bath with American cheese slices on the bottom half
  • Drain the fish on paper towels when finished cooking. Then lay the fish on top of the melted cheese, top with tartar sauce, and behold a thing of beauty.
    Cod Sandwich with melting cheese and lots of tartar sauce

Notes

You may want to include an extra workout after enjoying this sandwich!  Balance it out with a nice and light side salad.  
Bon appetit! 

Nutrition

Calories: 1603kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 60gFat: 129gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 65gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 221mgSodium: 1233mgPotassium: 1136mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 607IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 593mgIron: 5mg
Keyword cod sandwich, fish sandwich, sandwich
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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