Fish is one of those hit or miss items with toddlers. I served these “fish bites” to my toddler and sure enough he gobbled them down without question. I used flounder for these which is the perfect fish for bites because it is slit right down the middle and great for cutting into chunks. It has a light texture and great taste. These fish bites are a great alternative to frozen fish sticks that kids are more commonly served because after reading the ingredient list on a package of Gorton’s Crunchy Fish Sticks I would never consider eating them myself or serving them to my children. These are the ingredients in the frozen product:
INGREDIENTS: Minced pollock, enriched bleached wheat flour (flour, niacin, iron, thiamn mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (canola and/or soybean), water, yellow corn flour, modified corn starch, sugar, salt, dried yeast, whey (milk), dextrose, leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate), caramel color, hydrolyzed corn gluten, monosodium glutamate, colored with paprika, annatto and turmeric extracts, autolyzed yeast extract, onion powder, natural flavoring, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, sodium tripolyphosphate (to retain moisture), TBHQ added to protect flavor.
Not only do they contain hydrogenated oils (trans fats!), they also have enriched flour, caramel coloring, MSG (monosodium glutamate), autolyzed yeast extract (another form of MSG), preservatives, and a bunch of other stuff that I can’t pronounce. Not exactly the “healthy” fish consumers may think they are purchasing. The good news is the “fish bites” in this toddler lunch are 100% natural and super easy to prepare in only a few minutes. I paired the potato wedges with this fish and yes, I served ketchup with them because I can’t deny my children ketchup on occasion! We are choosey when it comes to ketchup and do not purchase the conventional ketchup that contains High Fructose Corn Syrup. I also served this with fresh mango (my favorite fruit!!!), blueberries, and apples.
For the potato wedges, all I do is cut the potatoes, pre-boil, season, and bake. The key to a crunchy wedge on the outside and soft on the inside is pre-boiling. Essentially I cook the potatoes almost the whole way by boiling (about 15 minutes), then transfer them to a baking sheet and bake to get that crunchy shell. If your kids are used to frozen French fries at home this is a great transition to an unprocessed version.
Fish Bites
By April 16, 2014
Published:- Yield: 4 Servings
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Ready In: 15 mins
This recipe is perfect for toddlers and kids of all ages!
Ingredients
- 2 filets flounder We always purchase fish that is not farm raised.
- 1/4 cup spelt or whole wheat flour I used spelt but whole wheat would work the same.
- to taste McCormick Grinder garlic pepper seasoning If you do not have this on hand you can use kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- 1 Tbsp butter For frying.
- 2 potatoes (for Wedges) I use russets
- drizzel olive oil (for Wedges)
- to taste kosher salt (for Wedges)
Instructions
- Press the fish between two paper towels to dry. Once the fish is dry cut it lengthwise down the "slit" that is already in the fish.
- Cut the fish widthwise into "bites." Season bites with garlic pepper seasoning.
- Dredge bites in flour.
- Melt butter in a sautee pan over medium to medium high heat. When butter is melted place fish bites in sautee pan and allow 2-3 minutes per side. Flounder can be very delicate so if you do have non-stick pans they might be more ideal for a recipe like this. I use stainless steel and just have to keep in mind that I shouldn't try to flip the bites before they are well cooked on one side as this can result in sticking.
- Cuisine: American
- Course: Entrée
- Skill Level: Child Friendly