Fish Katsu Bites. Delicious crispy panko-breaded nuggets of fried fish. Easy to make and ready in 30 minutes. Great as a main dish.
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What are Fish Katsu Bites?
Fish Katsu Bites feature white fish coated in cornstarch, egg and panko breadcrumbs fried in oil. These crispy fish bites are absolutely scrumptious and work well as a main dish, snack or side. I love enjoying these fish katsu bites with a sriracha mayo dipping sauce on the side with steamed rice and your favourite veggies.
This recipe was adapted from my chicken katsu recipe which has been a hit among my readers. I thought it would be great to create a fish katsu recipe which tastes lighter and is great for all fish lovers! This is a very quick and simple recipe that is great for the whole family to enjoy especially the kids. I mean who doesn't fried food?
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.Â
- White fish: cod, haddock, pollack are all good choices because they are sturdy and not too flaky in texture.
- Japanese panko breadcrumbs: or replace with regular breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Cornstarch or potato starch
- Salt and pepper
- Neutral oil: like vegetable oil, avocado oil or any scentless oil with a high smoke point.
Sriracha Mayo
- Japanese mayo: or replace with regular mayo
- Sriracha sauce
How to make Fish Katsu Bites
- Dice fish fillets into bite-sized pieces, about 1.5-inch wide.
- Pat your diced fish dry with a paper towel on both sides.
- Evenly season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Evenly coat each piece of fish in cornstarch, egg and lastly panko breadcrumbs.
- Heat 2-inches of vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. To check if the oil is hot enough, place a wooden chopstick in the middle and if bubbles form, it's time to fry the fish.
- Fry the fish in small batches on all sides until golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Transfer fried fish to a wire rack or paper towel lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine Sriracha Mayo sauce ingredients and enjoy with fish bites.
Storage & Reheating
This dish will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes or air fry for 4-6 minutes at 350 F.
Expert Tips
- Dice the fish into equal bite-sized pieces. This ensures a consistent frying time.
- Pat the fish dry as best as possible. This allows the fish to absorb the cornstarch without falling off.
- Evenly coat the fish bites ensuring no bald spots.
- Ensure the oil is hot enough before frying the fish.
- Allow the fish to get golden brown before removing from hot oil.
- Allow the fried fish to drip off excess oil on a wire rack or paper towel lined baking tray. Excess oil creates soggy fish katsu bites.
FAQ
Is it better to fry fish frozen or thawed?
For this recipe, I would suggest cooking from thawed since we are shallow frying.
Can I substitute with another type of protein?
Yes, chicken, pork, beef steak or tofu would work.
Other recipes you may like!
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Fish Katsu Bites
Ingredients
- 2 pieces haddock fillets or sub with cod or pollack
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs or as needed
- 1 egg beaten
- ¼ cup cornstarch or as needed
- 1 teaspoon salt or as needed
- ½ tsp black pepper or as needed
- vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Dipping Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon Japanese mayo
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
Instructions
- Dice fish fillets into bite-sized pieces, about 1.5-inch wide.
- Pat your diced fish dry with a paper towel on both sides.
- Evenly season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Evenly coat each piece of fish in cornstarch, egg and lastly panko breadcrumbs.
- Heat 2-inches of vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. To check if the oil is hot enough, place a wooden chopstick in the middle and if bubbles form, it's time to fry the fish.
- Fry the fish in small batches on all sides until golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Transfer fried fish to a wire rack or paper towel lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine Sriracha Mayo sauce ingredients and enjoy with fish bites.
Josiah - DIY Thrill
This cod recipe sounds amazing, thanks for sharing!
Kim Lange
Sounds divine. I've got to give this a try Christie!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
You've really made making fish bites so easy... and these will taste SOOOO much better than anything from the freezer aisle at the grocery store!
Wildflower
Looking forward to making these! Thanks for sharing!
christieathome
Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy them 🙂