The Ultimate Filet O Fish Sammie
This recipe creates a gourmet fish sandwich featuring panko-crusted baked halibut on a toasted sourdough baguette. It's layered with fresh arugula, tomato, and avocado, all brought together with a bright and flavorful lemon herb mayonnaise.
Equipment
- 1 Sheet Tray For baking the fish
- 3 Shallow Dishes or Bowls For the breading station
- 1 Mixing Bowl For the lemon herb mayonnaise
- 1 Sharp Knife For slicing fish, bread, and vegetables
- 2 Skewers Optional, for securing the sandwich
Ingredients
Main
- 1 whole tail piece fresh halibut 1 1/4 inches thick, by about 1 foot long
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup mayonnaise store-bought
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 handful fresh parsley leaves finely chopped
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves finely chopped
- 1 handful chives finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 foot long sourdough baguette
- 1 cup lightly packed hydroponic arugula leafy variety, with stems
- 1 ripe avocado cut in thick slices
- 1 beefsteak tomato cut in thick slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Put a large sheet tray in oven and heat it for 1/2 hour.
- Begin by patting the halibut fillet dry. If you have a tail end piece cut the fillet down the middle so you can invert the 2 pieces next to each other to form a nice rectangular shape that matches the bread. Set up a breading station with flour, beaten egg and milk, and bread crumbs in separate containers. Season with salt and pepper. Dip each fillet into the flour, egg mixture, and then panko. Set aside on a tray at room temperature to let the coating set.
- Pull out sheet tray from oven, add a 2-count of oil and transfer breaded fish to tray. Sprinkle with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Combine lemon herb mayonnaise ingredients in a bowl and blend until well combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Split the baguette in half horizontally. Open it up and toast it in a hot oven until just warmed through. Smear each half with lemon herb mayonnaise and stack up arugula, tomato and avocado on 1 half. Top with crispy panko fish fillets and top with the other half of bread. Skewer in 2 places and cut across the middle. Serve with more lemon-herb mayonnaise on the side.
Notes
Ensure your halibut fillet is completely dry before breading; this helps the coating adhere properly. Preheating the sheet tray creates a hot surface that encourages crisping on the bottom of the fish. Don't overcrowd the tray when baking, or the fish will steam instead of bake to a golden crisp. Toasting the baguette just until warmed prevents it from getting too hard and allows the mayonnaise to melt slightly, enhancing the texture.