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Crispy Baked Tuna Fish Sticks

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These crispy baked tuna fish sticks are a quick, easy, and delicious homemade alternative to frozen fish sticks. They feature a crunchy panko and parmesan coating with tender flaky tuna inside, perfect for family meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna in water, drained well
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (about 100 g)
  • 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (about 25 g)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 60 g)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil spray (or avocado oil spray)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Place a wire rack on top if available.
  2. Drain tuna thoroughly and transfer to a medium bowl. Flake tuna with a fork or potato masher until flaky but not mushy, leaving some larger bits.
  3. Add lemon zest, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the tuna. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Set up coating stations: place flour in one shallow bowl, beaten eggs in a second, and mix panko breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese in a third bowl.
  5. Scoop about 2 tablespoons (30 g) of tuna mixture and shape into a rectangular stick about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. Do not pack too tightly.
  6. Lightly dust each stick with flour, dip into beaten eggs letting excess drip off, then press into breadcrumb and parmesan mixture to coat all sides.
  7. Place sticks on prepared baking sheet or wire rack about 1/2 inch apart. Lightly spray with olive oil.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden brown and crispy outside but tender inside. Check at 10 minutes if oven runs hot.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes before serving to help coating set and stay crispy.

Notes

Drain tuna well to avoid soggy sticks. Do not over-pack the mixture to keep texture light and flaky. Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch and mix parmesan for savory depth. Lightly spray with oil before baking for best crispiness. Flip halfway through baking for even browning. Let rest a few minutes before serving. For gluten-free, substitute flour and breadcrumbs with almond flour and gluten-free panko. For dairy-free, omit parmesan and use nutritional yeast. Can be air fried at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.

Nutrition

Keywords: tuna fish sticks, baked fish sticks, crispy fish sticks, homemade fish sticks, easy dinner, family meal, seafood snack

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/crispy-baked-tuna-fish-sticks-recipe-easy-homemade-family-feast/