The BEST Fish Finger Sandwich

Name: The Best Fish Finger Sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 slice tiger bread; 6 fish fingers; 4 tbsp tartare sauce; 1 little gem lettuce (shredded); 30 g rocket lettuce (arugula); 1 gherkins (sliced); 5 g fresh parsley (chopped)

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A Fish Finger Sandwich is such a childhood favourite and also a classic pub grub choice. We have taken a basic fish finger sandwich to the next level. Thick slices of bread topped with chunky fish fingers, crispy greens and our homemade tartare sauce. The perfect posh fish finger sandwich for grown-ups.

Two stacks of fish finger sandwiches on a wooden serving board.

I love fish finger sandwich, and I am not ashamed to admit it. It was a staple in my student days and usually consisted of the cheapest white bread, cheap fish fingers that barely had any fish in, and a big dollop of ketchup. This version is far removed from that budget student meal.

One day a craving hit for that nostalgic meal, and we decided to make a grown up version of it. Really good bread, good quality fish fingers and a creamy homemade sauce and you can totally transform your lunch time.

Looking for some more sandwich inspirations? Why not try our Prawn Sandwich, Leftover Roast Beef Sandwich, Loaded Tuna Sandwich or The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich.

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Why should you try it?
What you will need
Step by step
Homemade fish fingers
Health benefits of fish
Variations
What to serve it with
Frequently Asked Questions
Extra tips
More fish recipes
Recipe

Why should you try it?

A grown up childhood classic - This was a favourite of mine growing up, but a very basic version. Who says you can't have childhood classics when you grow up?! We just find ways to adapt them and make them a bit fancier.
A new way to eat more fish - I am sure we do with getting more fish in our diets and this is one of our favourite ways. Kids will love these, or a variation of them, so it's a good way for them to eat more fish.
Adaptable - This is our favourite way to eat it, but it might not be to everyone's tastes. So, we have added our favourite variations of it below.
Ready in 20 minutes - This isn't the fastest lunch time option, but it is totally worth the wait.

What you will need

Fish fingers - The star of the sandwich, you want to go with the best quality you can because the quality of the fish will be noticeable. Homemade or store bought is up to you.
Bread - This is what holds the whole sandwich together. Any bread will work, but we used tiger loaf because of the lovely crunchy crust. You could even use a baguette or even a bagel.
Lettuce - Not only does this add colour, but some crunch too. We used little gem for crunch and then some rocket lettuce because it has a lovely peppery flavour.
Herbs - We added some parsley for a little freshness. You could swap it for dill, which always goes well with fish.
Sauce - This is what takes this fish finger sandwich to the next level. We used our Homemade Tartare Sauce which adds so much delicious creamy flavour.
Gherkins - Although the tartare sauce already has gherkins in it, we love them so we added more. Some slices of gherkins add some colour and extra crunch.

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

Step by step

One: Cook the fish fingers - about 15-18 minutes.

A bakng tray with six fish fingers on it.

Two: Butter the bread (optional). Add 1 tablespoon of tartare sauce to two slices of bread. Top with lettuce, parsley and then three fish fingers each.

Four shot collage of the sandwich being built step by step.

Three: Top each sandwich with the remaining tartare sauce, the sliced gherkins and finish with the other two slices of bread.

Fish fingers in a sandwich topped with tartare sauce and gherkins, then another slice of bread.

Homemade fish fingers

We used frozen jumbo crispy fish fingers to make this sandwich, however if you wanted to make a lighter version then you could make your own fish fingers.

Just 4 ingredients go in to making our homemade fish fingers and they are really easy for kids to help make too. The great thing about making your own is that you can change the fish that is used. A firm white fish such as cod, halibut, pollock or tilapia is best. Whichever fish you decide to use, try to find fish fillets that are nice and thick, as these will be able to get a good sized "finger/stick".

Health benefits of fish

We used cod fish fingers and cod is a great source of protein and it is also low in fat. If you are looking to add more fish to your diet, then this is an easy one to start with, as it doesn't have a really strong flavour and it is easy to cook.

Because it is low in fat, it's a great choice for those looking to reduce their fat intake and improve their heart health. Although cod doesn't have as much Omega-3s as fatty fish like salmon, it still has lots of nutritional benefits. For example, it is a good source of B vitamins, which are good for metabolising nutrients and releasing energy from food. Cod is also low in mercury, compared to other fish like tuna.

Fish finger poking out of slices of bread.

Variations

There is so much that you can do with a fish finger sandwich, that you never have to eat it the same way twice. Here are some of our favourite ways to adapt this sandwich:

Bread - We have used slices of tiger loaf, but you can use any slices of bread like rye, sourdough, wholegrain or white. You could also use a bagel, baguette, pita, flatbread or even a croissant to make it super fancy.
Lettuce - Some kind of lettuce is a must in our opinion, as it adds some colour and crunch. We used little gem for crunch, but you could use romaine instead. We also added rocked for a peppery flavour, but you could swap that for spinach or kale to make it more nutritious.
Sauce - We added a big dollop of our homemade tartar sauce, as it goes perfectly with fish, but you could use another relish or even just some mayo or ketchup. Why not try our Homemade Healthier Ketchup.

What to serve it with

These sandwiches are pretty epic. They are very, very filling, so there is no need to serve them with anything. However, if you wanted to make a few sandwiches to share with sides, then we have some delicious side options for you:

A hand holding two fish finger sandwiches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fish finger sandwiches healthy?

There are all the health benefits of the fish we have listed below, so this can be a protein packed and nutrient dense lunch. If you wanted to keep it lower in calories, then you could make the tartare sauce with yoghurt or half mayo and half yoghurt. Add some spinach to the sandwich for some extra nutrition.

Are fish finger sandwiches gluten free?

You can get some great gluten free fish fingers in the frozen section of your local supermarket. Add those to your favourite gluten free bread and you have yourself a delicious gluten free sandwich.

How to store fish finger sandwiches

We recommend making these from fresh as they wouldn't store well. The sandwiches would go soggy if stored in the fridge.

Extra tips

You can either use frozen fish fingers, or make your own using our recipe. Mix things up a bit and use salmon to make fish fingers.
If you want to make a lighter version of this recipe, swap the mayo for yoghurt in the homemade tartare sauce recipe.
Another easy way to change this sandwich up is by using different bread. We love swapping slices of bread for bagels.

More fish recipes

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