Haddock Goujons With Parmesan Crust (Printer-Friendly)

Crispy Parmesan-crusted haddock strips served with vibrant pea pesto. Sophisticated and delicious in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 1.1 lb skinless haddock fillets, cut into finger-sized strips

→ Coating

02 - 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs, beaten
04 - 2.8 oz panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1.75 oz finely grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - 0.5 tsp sea salt
08 - 0.5 tsp smoked paprika

→ Pea Pesto

09 - 1.6 cups frozen peas
10 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves
11 - 0.88 oz grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 small garlic clove
13 - 1 oz pine nuts
14 - 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
15 - 0.5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For Serving

17 - Lemon wedges
18 - Mixed salad leaves

# Direction Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C conventional, 180°C fan). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls in sequence: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with grated Parmesan, black pepper, salt, and smoked paprika.
03 - Coat each haddock strip first in flour, shake off excess, dip in beaten egg, then roll in the Parmesan-panko mixture. Arrange coated strips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
04 - Lightly spray or drizzle the goujons with olive oil. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crispy.
05 - Blanch frozen peas in boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold water. Place peas, basil, Parmesan, garlic clove, pine nuts, olive oil, and lemon juice into a food processor. Pulse until mostly smooth with a slight texture remaining. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Arrange hot goujons on serving plates with a generous spoonful of pea pesto, lemon wedges, and mixed salad leaves on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers all the crispy satisfaction of fried fish without any of the mess or guilt from deep frying.
  • The pea pesto is bright, creamy, and comes together in under five minutes while the fish bakes.
  • Even people who claim they don't like fish have asked for seconds when I've served this.
02 -
  • Don't skip the oil spray or drizzle before baking, it's what helps the Parmesan crust turn deeply golden instead of staying pale and soft.
  • Refresh the peas under cold water immediately after blanching or they'll turn a dull, army green instead of staying vibrant.
  • Pat the haddock strips dry before coating them, any excess moisture will make the crust soggy instead of crisp.
03 -
  • Use a light hand with the flour, too much and the egg won't stick properly, leading to patchy breading.
  • For extra crunch, double coat the goujons by dipping them in egg and breadcrumbs twice before baking.
  • If your pesto is too thick, loosen it with a tablespoon of pasta cooking water or extra lemon juice until it's spoonable.
  • Toast the pine nuts or sunflower seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes before blending, it deepens the flavour enormously.
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