At-Home Fish Fry: 18 Recipes to Make During Lent (2024)

FAQs

What does fish fry have to do with Lent? ›

Fish, also, does not count as meat for Lenten abstinence. Fish (and shellfish), unlike mammals and birds, are cold-blooded. Given that fish is a permitted food during Lenten Fridays, it has become a tradition in parts of the United States for churches to offer a fish-fry dinner during the Fridays of Lent.

Typical feast

The meal's components may include some combination of anchovies, whiting, lobster, sardines, baccalà (dried salt cod), smelts, eels, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels and clams. The menu may also include pasta, vegetables, baked goods and wine.

All it takes is some good, crispy fried fish, classic sides like hushpuppies, potato salad, and baked beans, and cool summer desserts. A refreshing sipper like strawberry lemonade doesn't hurt either. So, pull out your checkered table cloths, and tartar sauce; this roundup has all that and more!

Fish (and shellfish), unlike mammals and birds, are cold-blooded. Given that fish is a permitted food during Lenten Fridays, it has become a tradition in parts of the United States for churches to offer a fish-fry dinner during the Fridays of Lent.

Obvious options like golden beer-battered fried fish or lemony baked salmon are delicious and nourishing meals to eat at appropriate times during Lent. Shellfish, alligators, turtles, and even snakes are also religiously-sound options.

The tradition in Wisconsin began because Wisconsin was settled heavily by Catholics of German, Polish, and other backgrounds whose religion forbade eating meat on Fridays. The number of lakes in the state meant that eating fish became a popular alternative.

In 1563, Queen Elizabeth I, the daughter of King Henry VIII, mandated fasting from meat on Wednesdays specifically to support the fishing industry. Catholics eat fish on Fridays because they cannot eat meat (and apparently do not want to eat a meal of only grains, fruits, or vegetables).

The number seven stems from the biblical importance of the number and its lucky connotation. While many of these symbols are taken from Catholicism and Italian tradition, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is virtually unheard of in Italy and instead is considered an Italian-American tradition.

Our Instant Pot black beans, rice and peas, and callaloo will more than fill out your fish fry feast. And if you're going for a classic Southern spread, look no further than our homemade mac and cheese, biscuits, and plenty of baked beans.

A typical Midwestern Friday fish fry may consist of beer-battered fish (oftentimes cod) served with tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and French fries (or German-style potato pancakes), coleslaw, and rye bread. Main Dish: Beer Batter Fish Made Great. Side Dishes: Chef John's French Fries or German Potato Pancakes.

How to use fish fry seasoning mix? ›

Chill fish filets in ice water. Pour Louisiana Fish Fry Breading Mix into a container, leaving enough room to cover the fish. Remove a filet from the ice water and let it drip dry a bit. Dredge the filet in the fry mix, making sure fish is completely covered.

Tilapia or Catfish

Both of these ready-to-fry fish are available at most markets and are very affordable. Try our favorite fried catfish recipe. Tilapia is a mild-tasting versatile fish which allows you to play with various seasonings, toppings and batters.

Most Flavorful: Boston Pollock

Pollock is a controversial choice in some households, but it is becoming more popular. A member of the cod family, pollock is juicy and tender. It is much more flavorful than its blander cousin cod. Battered and fried pollock tastes wonderful with a splash of lemon juice or tartar sauce.

#1: Salmon

When it comes to the best tasting fish, few fish can rival the allure and versatility of salmon. Renowned for its rich taste and succulent texture, salmon has become a staple in kitchens around the world. Its distinct flavor profile and buttery texture make it a true culinary gem.

In the U.S., the history of fried fish stems from the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat during Lent. People turned to fish for protein during the 40 days of Lent. The practice lives on today in Friday fish frys.

Fish is viewed as a different kind of flesh, and so is favoured over meat on Good Friday. Additionally, fish shapes were used by Christians to identify each other, and it is believed that many followers of Jesus were fishermen.

In the mid-1960s, the Catholic church changed the rules around abstaining from animal meat every Friday of the year and just required parishioners to do so on Fridays during Lent, but by then, “going out for fish” on Fridays was simply an integral part of Wisconsin life.

German and Polish Catholic immigrants settled in Milwaukee in the 1860s and began the tradition of the Friday fish fry. During Lent, they didn't eat meat on Fridays, instead eating the fish they caught in Lake Michigan.