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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

    Parmesan Breaded Fish with Pesto Yoghurt Dip

    Author: Amy Fulwood | Published: Dec 27, 2018 | Modified: Oct 3, 2024

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    This parmesan breaded fish is coated in panko and oven baked then served with a pesto yoghurt dip for a quick and healthy dinner that's easy enough for a weeknight but impressive enough to serve to guests.

    Since we've been trying to reduce our meat consumption we've been adding a bit more fish into our diet and have been making some really easy and healthy fish recipes like this baked mackerel with salad and flatbreads and super quick salmon tacos.

    Click here to pin this recipe for later!

    Parmesan breaded fish with salad in a white bowl on a blue background
    Parmesan breaded fish with salad and yoghurt dip on a white plate

    This crispy breaded fish fillets recipe is packed with flavour! The panko is mixed with plenty of garlic and parsley before quickly dredging the fish through it and then baking for 15 minutes until crispy.

    I wanted to keep this meal really simple and so served it with some salad leaves but if you wanted to bulk it out a bit more then you could go classic with some chips or add a few extra vegetables.

    Oh, also, I had the fish in a sandwich the next day and it was excellent. A fish sandwich is where it's at.

    Side on shot of parmesan breaded fish with salad on a white plate over a blue background
    A gold fork cutting into parmesan breaded fish on a white plate with salad and dip

    Why we love this recipe...

    I'm actually a huge fish lover and really love how quick it is to cook. It's also so good for you and tastes amazing in so many different cuisines and dishes so I'm always happy to work it into our weekly cooking. 

    For this recipe I wanted to go really simple. Crunchy breaded fish is a much loved classic so it seemed like a great option for a simple dinner. It would normally be fried but I'm definitely not up for deep frying when I'm trying to get a quick dinner on the table so I went for baking instead.

    This gives you time to crack open a bottle of wine, toss some salad leaves with a dressing and whisk together the yoghurt and pesto to make a delicious dip for the fish. Plus using this method keeps it so much healthier than fried fish.

    White bowl with breaded fish and salad on a blue background
    Gold fork cutting into breaded fish with salad in a white bowl

    Ingredients

    • Cod Fillets: Or you could use any white fish fillets you like (tilapia, haddock or monkfish would also work!). Use up leftovers in these Thai fish cakes
    • Panko: You can buy this in most supermarkets, it's normally in the Asian food section. If you can't find them then you could use normal bread crumbs although the fish won't be as crunchy. Use any leftover panko sprinkled over this aubergine parmigiana
    • Parsley: Use plenty of fresh parsley to add a nice freshness
    • Garlic: The more the better!
    • Parmesan: Grating parmesan into the panko adds so much flavour to the fish 
    • Flour and Egg: To get your fish dredge on
    • Pesto: To make this recipe super easy just grab a jar of the ready made stuff but if you want to go all out then feel free to make your own! Use up any leftover in these stuffed dough balls
    • Yoghurt: I prefer full fat to make it a good dipping texture
    Pesto yoghurt dip for parmesan breaded fish on a blue background
    Overhead shot of parmesan breaded fish in a white bowl on a blue background

    How to make it

    1. Bread the fish: Heat the oven to 180°C. Mix the panko with parsley, garlic and parmesan in a shallow dish. Add flour and egg into separate bowls. Dredge the fish in flour, then egg, then panko mixture. Transfer the fish to baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
    2. Make the dip: Mix the pesto and yoghurt together. Serve the fish with the dip and fresh salad leaves.
    Parmesan breaded fish in a white bowl with salad on a blue background
    Parmesan breaded fish with salad on a white plate on a blue background

    Variations

    • Use chicken instead: If you prefer you could try making this recipe with pounded chicken breasts. Simply follow the method and adjust the cooking times accordingly
    • Don't use egg: If you're avoiding egg then you can try breading fish without egg by whisking together 2 tablespoons of milk and 2 tablespoons of oil and then using it to dredge the fish

    FAQs

    How long do you bake breaded fish?

    This baked fish takes about 15 minutes to cook in a 180°C/350°F oven until it's golden brown, flakey and cooked through.

    Is breaded fish healthy?

    The great thing about this recipe is that there's no frying involved which keeps it on the healthy side, especially when it's served with a big green salad!

    How to bread fish?

    To bread the fish for this recipe crack your eggs into a small bowl and put your breadcrumbs and seasonings into another one. Sprinkle flour onto a plate and then dredge your fish fillets first in the flour, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs. Repeat with each piece of fish.

    Is breaded fish gluten free?

    Unfortunately this recipe uses panko breadcrumbs which are not gluten free but lots of shops do now carry gluten free breadcrumbs so if you can get those then you could use them along with gluten free flour to make this recipe gluten free.

    Can you use frozen fish to make this recipe?

    Frozen fish is often a cheaper option than fresh so it's a great idea to use it for this recipe. Just defrost completely before using.

    What can you eat with breaded fish?

    There are so many options for how to serve this! Fish and chips is always a classic. You could try serving in a sandwich topped with coleslaw or with a salad for a healthier option. 

    How do I get my breading to stick to my fish?

    The key is making sure you don't miss the flour step. The flour ensures that the egg coats the fish and this allows the breadcrumbs to stick to the fish. Try repeating the flour and egg steps to make sure the fish gets thoroughly coated.

    Close up of parmesan breaded fish with a golden fork taking some and dipping it in pesto yoghurt dip

    Expert tips

    • You can use any firm white fish in this recipe including cod, haddock or tilapia 
    • To make this recipe gluten free then use gluten free breadcrumbs or make your own using your favourite gluten free bread
    • If you want to switch up the serving of this fish then you could try having it with aioli or even guacamole

    Want more? Try these other fish recipes!

    • Cajun Salmon Pasta
    • One Pot Fish Stew with White Beans
    • Smoky Fish Pie
    • Tilapia Fish Tacos
    • 15 Minute Salmon Burgers with Garlic Yoghurt

    Recipe

    White bowl of breaded fish on a blue background

    Parmesan Breaded Fish with Pesto Yoghurt Dip

    This parmesan breaded fish is coated in panko and oven baked then served with a pesto yoghurt dip for a quick and healthy dinner that's easy enough for a weeknight but impressive enough to serve to guests.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 542kcal
    Author: Amy Fulwood

    Ingredients

    • 4 Cod Fillets
    • 100 g Panko Breadcrumbs
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 2 tablespoon Parsley chopped
    • 2 cloves Garlic crushed
    • 30 g Parmesan grated
    • Plain Flour
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 tablespoon Pesto
    • 4 tablespoon Yoghurt
    • Lemon Wedges to serve, if desired
    UK Measures - US Measures

    Instructions

    • Heat oven to 180°C/350°F. Mix the panko, parsley, garlic and parmesan together in a shallow bowl. Sprinkle a little flour onto a plate. Beat the egg in another bowl. Coat a cod fillet in the flour, dip into the egg then coat in the panko mixture and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the other fillets. Put the fish in the oven for about 15 minutes until cooked through and flakey.
    • Mix the pesto and yoghurt together and serve with the fish and a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the fish if desired.
    Nutrition Facts
    Parmesan Breaded Fish with Pesto Yoghurt Dip
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 542 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 3g15%
    Cholesterol 242mg81%
    Sodium 607mg25%
    Potassium 1964mg56%
    Carbohydrates 20g7%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 88g176%
    Vitamin A 555IU11%
    Vitamin C 7.5mg9%
    Calcium 248mg25%
    Iron 3.3mg18%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @amycookreport on Instagram and hashtag it #thecookreport!

    Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!

    Pinterest image for parmesan breaded fish with text overlay

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    Comments

    1. Vicky says

      December 28, 2018 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      I love pesto on everything so I am definitely going to try it on fish. This makes a great meal that I bet even my kids would love!

      Reply
    2. priya says

      December 28, 2018 at 6:05 am

      Hi AMY !
      Oh 5 stars! Great post! That is a beautiful tart and a fantastic sounding recipe. Thank You.

      Reply
    3. Caroline says

      December 28, 2018 at 12:35 am

      5 stars
      I've made a parmesan crust similar to this for chicken rather than fish before, but can imagine this being really good too. Easy, relatively healthy and tasty!

      Reply
    4. Juli says

      December 27, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      This looks great! The pesto and yogurt sauce sounds delicious!

      Reply
    5. Jacque Hastert says

      December 27, 2018 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      That dip sounds amazing! I would love to make this tonight.

      Reply
    5 from 4 votes

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    Photo of Amy in a red jumper wearing glasses

    Hey, I'm Amy Fulwood!

    Recipe creator and photographer here at TheCookReport.co.uk.

    Over here we’re all about delicious healthy recipes to fit around busy schedules and celebrating the joy that comes from an amazing meal.

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