Cheat’s Crispy Fish Burgers
Equipment
- Food processor
- Knife
- Small bowl
Ingredients
- 4 frozen crumbed white fish fillets
- 4 iceberg lettuce leaves shredded
- 4 soft white burger buns halved
Tartare Sauce
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon cornichons or gherkins
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 100 g mayonnaise
- Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Make the tartare sauce by finely chopping the capers and cornichons or gherkins on a board, then transfer them to a small bowl with the mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with freshly ground black pepper and stir until combined. Alternatively, add all the sauce ingredients to a small food processor and process until combined.
- Place the frozen fish fillets in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 200°C for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crisp. Check that the fish is fully cooked through.
- Toast the burger buns in the air fryer for 1 minute if desired.
- Spread tartare sauce over the bases of the burger buns. Add the shredded iceberg lettuce and crispy fish fillets. Finish with the bun tops and serve immediately.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve these fish burgers immediately while the crumbed fish is hot and crisp. They pair particularly well with Potatoes, a fresh Salad or extra shredded lettuce. Serve additional tartare sauce on the side for dipping.Recipe Notes
The fish fillets are cooked directly from frozen, making this a particularly convenient meal. Cooking times can vary depending on the thickness and brand of fish fillet, so check that the fish is completely cooked before serving. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. The hot air needs to circulate around each fillet to make the breadcrumb coating crisp and evenly golden.Variations
Add sliced tomato, cucumber or red onion to the burgers for extra freshness. For a sharper tartare sauce, increase the amount of lemon juice or add additional chopped cornichons. A little chopped fresh parsley can also be stirred through the sauce.Storage and Reheating
The assembled burgers are best eaten immediately. Refrigerate leftover cooked fish in an airtight container for up to 2 days and store the tartare sauce separately. Reheat the fish in the Airfryer until thoroughly hot and crisp before assembling a fresh burger.Wine Advice
A crisp Sauvignon Blanc works particularly well with the fish, lemon and tartare sauce. A fresh Pinot Grigio is another suitable choice when you prefer a lighter, delicate wine alongside the burger.Nutrition values
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About Cheat’s Crispy Fish Burgers
Cheat’s Crispy Fish Burgers turn a handful of convenient ingredients into a satisfying meal with very little preparation. Frozen crumbed white fish fillets provide the crispy centre, while soft burger buns, shredded iceberg lettuce and homemade tartare sauce complete the burger. Using the Airfryer means the frozen fish can go directly from the freezer to the basket, making this an especially useful recipe when you need dinner without much advance planning.
Why Frozen Fish Works Well Here
Frozen crumbed fish fillets are particularly suitable for this type of burger because the coating is already designed to become crisp during cooking. There is no need to prepare separate flour, egg and breadcrumb coatings, which significantly reduces both preparation time and washing up.
White fish also has a relatively mild flavour, so it works well with the sharper ingredients in the tartare sauce. The crisp breadcrumb coating provides texture, while the fish inside remains soft and flaky. You can explore more dishes using fish in our Fish collection.
Cooking Crispy Fish in the Air Fryer
The air fryer is especially useful for frozen crumbed products because circulating hot air reaches the coating from several directions. This encourages even browning without requiring a pan of frying oil. Turning the fillets halfway through cooking helps both sides become crisp.
Leave some space between the fish fillets in the basket rather than stacking or tightly packing them. Air circulation is an important part of the cooking method. If the basket is too crowded, the breadcrumb coating can remain softer in areas where the hot air cannot circulate properly.
Homemade Tartare Sauce
Although the fish itself is deliberately convenient, making the tartare sauce from scratch takes only a few minutes. Mayonnaise provides the creamy base, while capers and cornichons or gherkins introduce acidity, saltiness and crunch. Fresh lemon juice brightens the sauce and complements the mild white fish.
The sauce can be made by hand for a chunkier texture or briefly processed in a small food processor for a smoother result. Freshly ground black pepper is enough to finish the seasoning because capers and pickles already contain plenty of salt.
Building the Fish Burgers
Soft white burger buns provide a useful contrast with the crunchy fish. Toasting the cut surfaces briefly is optional, but it can help prevent the tartare sauce from soaking too quickly into the bread. A layer of shredded iceberg lettuce adds freshness and another crisp texture.
Spread the tartare sauce over the bottom half of each bun before adding the lettuce and fish. This keeps the sauce distributed throughout the burger rather than simply sitting on top. These burgers fit naturally into the Burgers collection and are an easy alternative to traditional beef or chicken burgers.
An Easy Family Dinner
Because there are relatively few ingredients and almost no complicated preparation steps, these fish burgers work particularly well for a quick Dinner. They can be served alone for a lighter meal or combined with potato wedges, fries, salad or vegetables when you want something more substantial.
The basic burger is also easy to customise. Tomato, cucumber or red onion can provide additional freshness, while extra tartare sauce can be served separately for dipping. If serving children who prefer simpler flavours, the fish and lettuce can be served with plain mayonnaise instead.
Storage and Food Safety
These burgers are best assembled immediately before eating because the crisp fish coating gradually softens after it comes into contact with the sauce. If you have leftover cooked fish, refrigerate it separately from the buns, lettuce and tartare sauce. Reheating the fish in the air fryer is the best way to restore some of its crispness.
Frozen fish products can vary in thickness and composition, so always follow the package instructions where they differ from the general cooking time in this recipe. Make sure the fish is thoroughly cooked before serving.
For current information about safely preparing, cooking and storing seafood, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance on seafood safety.
With crisp fish, cool lettuce, soft bread and tangy homemade tartare sauce, Cheat’s Crispy Fish Burgers offer plenty of contrasting textures without requiring a long ingredient list. They are quick enough for an everyday meal but still feel more complete than simply serving frozen fish fillets on their own.