Egyptian Fried Fish Sandwich
THIS is not your average fried fish sandwich! Making a crispy fish sandwich recipe Egyptian-style means big flavor, color, texture, bold Mediterranean spices, creamy tahini sauce, fluffy pita bread, and fresh veggies.
This extra crispy fish sandwich recipe is inspired by a fried fish from my childhood, which we call Samak Makli. My mom made many variations, often frying whole fish. But this recipe works just as well with fish fillets, which are easier to serve in a pita pocket with a drizzle of garlicky tahini sauce and a colorful mix of fresh, roasted, and pickled vegetables.
The fragrant mix of cumin, coriander, paprika and a dash of hot pepper flakes is as essential as the lemon juice. Give the fish a few minutes in the fridge to marinate while you prepare the fixings. From there, you fry it to perfection until it’s flaky, crispy, and tender all at the same time!
Loaded with flavor, color and texture, this fried fish sandwich is on a whole other level of satisfying and delicious. Serve with pickles and tart Karkade (Hibiscus Tea) on the side.
Ingredients for Egyptian Fried Fish Sandwiches
If you’ve had fried fish before, you may have noticed its rich and savory nature needs a lot of acidity for balance. In the US that often looks like coleslaw, or in Britain malt vinegar. For Egyptians, we like to add a lot of flavor to the fish with spices, then layer on loads of fresh veggies, lemon juice, and pickles. The result is balanced and delicious. I know you’ll love it! You need:
For the Crispy Fish
Fish: Use a mildly flavored, rather firm fish fillet, like cod or haddock.
Seasoning: The fish is spiced with a warm and earthy blend of coriander, cumin, paprika, and Aleppo pepper–You can stock up on all of these quintessential Mediterranean spices at our shop. Salt and pepper enhance the flavor.
Garlic adds a sweet and savory depth of flavor.
Fresh lemon juice lightens the dish.
Oil: You can use extra virgin olive oil but I understand that it’s expensive, so feel free to use a high-quality neutral oil like avocado oil or sunflower oil.
Dredge: All-purpose flour, cornstarch, and baking soda coats the fish, ensuring it gets very crispy but not too heavy.
To Serve
Roasted eggplant rounds (optional): Adds a velvety texture and rich Mediterranean flavor. To make it, you’ll need 1 large eggplant, extra virgin olive oil, and kosher salt.
Tahini sauce adds delicious creamy, garlicky flavor. To make it, you’ll need garlic, salt, tahini paste (stock up at our shop), lime or lemon juice, and parsley.
Tomato, cucumbers, and arugula add freshness. Look for Persian cucumbers, which are sweeter with a tender skin. If you have a standard slicing cucumber, peel off the skin before slicing.
Pita bread has the perfect pocket for holding the sandwich together. Use Homemade Pita Bread or a high quality store bought variety.
Olives and/or pickles add a briny flavor. Use any variety you like, like pickled turnips, cucumbers, or red onions.
A close-up of a fried fish sandwich on a plate surrounded by slices persian cucumbers, olives and a lemon half.
Ingredient Spotlight
Let's talk about the power of sesame seeds. These tiny wonders serve as the foundation of Tahini, a nutty-tasting paste made from crushed sesame seeds. It is frequently used in North African and Middle Eastern countries and you'll find it a lot in Mediterranean cooking.
Most people are familiar with hummus, where tahini is a key ingredient. But it's also used to make Tahini Sauce like the one used in this Egyptian Fish Sandwich recipe or even in sweet recipes like this Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Tahini.
Think of tahini as your creamy flavor powerhouse. Good tahini should taste smooth and nutty (although it's a seed so there's no nuts!), and it can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
How to Make an Egyptian-Style Fried Fish Sandwich
The fish fries quickly, so you’ll want to get all of your fixings ready before you start heating the oil. Here’s how to do it:
Make the Roasted Eggplant Rounds (optional, up to 1 day in advance)
Sweat the eggplant. If you’re serving with the roasted eggplant, slice a large eggplant into ¾-inch to 1-inch rounds. Sprinkle both sides of the slices with salt and arrange on a large tray lined with paper towels. Leave for 30 minutes to allow the eggplant to "sweat."
Get ready to roast: Arrange a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 400°F.
Roast the eggplant. Pat the eggplant slices dry and brush both sides generously with extra virgin olive oil. Discard the paper towels, then lightly oil the baking sheet and arrange eggplant slices on top, making sure to space them out well. Roast in a heated oven for 20 minutes, then flip and roast until the eggplant is golden brown all over, 10 to 15 minutes more. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container in your refrigerator, allowing the eggplant to come to room temperature before serving. roasted eggplant slices on a baking sheet.
Get Ready to Cook
Season the fish. Pat a 1 ½ pounds fish fillet dry, then slice it into 4 to 6 portions and place it in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, combine the 1 teaspoon coriander, cumin, paprika, and ½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes.
Add a generous dash of salt and pepper. Mix well, then sprinkle the fish evenly with the spices. Add 3 minced garlic cloves, then use your hands to rub in the spices and garlic. Squeeze the juice from two lemons over the fish, then refrigerate while you prepare the fixings and warm the oil (about 10 to 20 minutes). An overhead photo of seasoned, uncooked fish fillets in a baking dish surrounded by bowls of pepper, olives and salt, as well as a lemon halve.
Get your fixings ready. Prepare the tahini sauce according to this recipe. Thinly slice 2 to 3 Persian cucumbers and 1 large tomato. If you’re serving with olives, smash them with the side of your knife and remove their pits (if necessary.) Cut any pickles into sandwich-size pieces. Fried fish fixings, including pita bread, tahini, arugula, slices of Persian cucumbers, sliced tomato and a bowl of olives on a wooden cutting board.
Dredge and Fry the Fish
Dredge the fish. In a shallow dish, combine 1 cup flour, ½ cup cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix well, then remove the fish from the fridge and coat each fillet on both sides with the flour mixture. Shake gently to get rid of excess flour. An overhead photo of seasoned, uncooked white fish fillets in a baking dish. Next to this is a fillet being dredged the flour mixture in a bowl with a fork, and a small bowl of pepper.
Fry the fish. Line a large plate with paper towels and set it near your stove. In a medium nonstick skillet, add enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet by about 2 inches. Heat over medium heat until the oil begins to bubble, then gently arrange the fish in the skillet.
The oil may not cover the fish fully, and that is okay, but if your skillet is too small to fit all the fish do this in batches, replenishing the oil as necessary. Cook on one side until golden brown, about 3 minutes, then use a spatula to carefully flip the fish. Cook on the other side until crispy and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes more. Fish fillets being fried in oil in a skillet.
Drain. Use the spatula to transfer the fish to the paper towel-lined plate. Hit it with lemon juice from the remaining lemon immediately.
Assemble the Sandwiches
Layer and dig in! To finish up this fried fish sandwich recipe, open up the pita pockets and spread a bit of the tahini sauce on one side of the pita. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, a handful of arugula, some pickles, and a couple of roasted eggplant slices, if using. Add the fish and finish with more tahini sauce. Serve immediately, with extra olives and/or pickles on the side for snacking between bites! A close-up of two fried fish sandwiches on a plate with sides of roasted eggplant slices, tomato, and a lemon wedge.
Ways to Mix it Up
You can serve this fried fish sandwich recipe in many different ways. Here are some ideas:
Make it spicy: Spread a layer of harissa sauce onto the pita (homemade or from our shop).
Grill the fish: Skip the dredge and grill the fish instead for a summery meal.
Swap in chicken cutlets: Fry for about 3 minutes per side.
Make it a bowl: Skip the pita and serve with lemon rice (or quinoa for gluten-free) Mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad, tahini sauce, and fried or roasted eggplant.
What to Serve with Fish Sandwiches
In the Mediterranean, crispy fish sandwiches are often served with a very tart drink that acts as a pallet cleanser of sorts for the richness of the fried fish—even pickle juice in some cases! But an iced Karkade (Hibiscus Tea) is also a refreshing option that’s nice and tart.
I love small bowls on the side with olives and/or pickles, like my Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips and fresh fruit like sliced watermelon when it’s juicy and in-season.
