Description
This Pan Fried Walleye recipe features crispy, golden fillets coated in a savory panko and parmesan breading. Perfectly seasoned and pan-fried to perfection, it's a quick and delicious weeknight meal ready in just 22 minutes. Serve with fresh lemon wedges and herbs for a bright, flavorful finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 fillets walleye (1/2 inch thickness, 7-8 inches in length)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated, powdered works best)
- 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
- oil for cooking
Garnishes
- fresh lemon wedges
- chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or chives
Instructions
- Prepare breadcrumb mixture: In a pie plate or similar dish, combine parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and freshly ground black pepper. Use a hand whisk to mix thoroughly and set aside.
- Dry the fish: Use clean paper towels to pat the walleye fillets dry, removing any excess moisture to ensure the coating adheres well.
- Heat the oil: Pour enough oil into a large, heavy skillet or cast iron pan to generously coat the bottom. Heat over medium heat until hot and shimmering.
- Coat with egg and breadcrumbs: Dip or brush two fillets with beaten egg, allowing excess to drip off. Press the breadcrumb mixture firmly onto both sides of the fillets to coat them generously.
- Pan-fry first side: Once the oil is very hot and smoking slightly, carefully place the coated fillets into the skillet. Cover with a splatter guard and cook about 3 minutes until the bottoms are nicely browned.
- Flip and cook second side: Use a firm, large spatula to carefully flip the fillets and cook the other side until golden and cooked through, about 3 minutes more.
- Repeat with remaining fillets: Repeat the egg dip, breadcrumb coating, and frying steps with the remaining two fillets.
- Serve: Serve the crispy pan-fried walleye immediately with fresh lemon wedges and a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or chives for added brightness and flavor.
Notes
- Be sure to thoroughly dry the walleye to ensure the breadcrumb coating adheres properly.
- Using a splatter guard helps keep your stovetop cleaner while frying.
- Parmesan powder works best to get an even coating mixed with the panko crumbs.
- Serve with lemon wedges and fresh herbs to enhance the flavors.
- This dish cooks quickly—around 22 minutes total—making it ideal for weeknight dinners.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 959 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 134 mg
