Ingredients
- Fish:
- 4 cod fillets (or flounder)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Tartar Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet relish
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Buns and Toppings:
- 4 brioche buns
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 4 cheddar cheese slices (or American cheese)
- Cooking spray (for air fryer)
Instructions
- Make the tartar sauce: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet relish, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Marinate the fish: Place cod fillets in a zip-top bag or bowl and cover with buttermilk. Marinate for 20–30 minutes.
- Prepare the coating: In a shallow bowl, mix flour, panko, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat air fryer: Set air fryer to 400°F and spray the basket generously with cooking spray.
- Coat the fillets: Dredge each fish fillet in the flour mixture, pressing to coat well. Let rest on a plate, then coat a second time for extra crispiness.
- Air fry the fish: Place fillets in the air fryer basket. Spray tops with cooking spray to fully coat flour. Cook for 12–14 minutes, flipping halfway and re-spraying with cooking spray until golden and crispy.
- Final touches: In the last minute of cooking, sprinkle coarse salt on top and add a slice of cheese to each fillet to melt.
- Assemble sandwiches: Add shredded lettuce to the bottom half of each brioche bun. Top with crispy fish fillet, spoon tartar sauce over the top, and finish with the top bun.
- Serve: Serve hot with fries or chips and enjoy!
- Optional frying method: If preferred, fry fillets in 350°F oil for 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Drain on a wire rack before assembling sandwiches.
Notes
- Double-coating ensures extra crunch in the air fryer.
- Use flounder or another white fish if cod isn’t available.
- Tartar sauce can be made ahead and stored up to 1 week in the fridge.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 350°F for 4–5 minutes to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
