Posh fish fingers

Fish fingers are great, aren't they?  Even as an adult there's something really satisfying about a fish finger sandwich - and nothing cheaper than ready-made fish fingers between a couple of slices of sliced white, with whatever sauce or ketchup you like.  My local Lidl even sells MSC-certified ones, for a couple of pence more than a pack of non-certified ones.

Dinnertime demands a bit more care and attention, so I thought I'd try a fresh variation on the frozen, breadcrumbed theme.

Take a selection of your favourite, sustainable fish, filleted for you by your friendly local supermarket (couldn't tell you the last time I saw a decent fishmonger, but the fish counters in my local supermarkets are excellent) and cut them into roughly equally sized pieces.  Thinner pieces can be larger, if you see what I mean - you just want them to all cook at the same time.I've used a fillet each of tilapia, cod and trout but just use whatever you like.

Get three pudding bowls.  Put flour mixed with dill in one, a roughly beaten egg in the next and fill the third with outmeal.  Dip the fish pieces in each bowl in order - the flour will allow the egg to stick to the fish, and the egg will allow the oatmeal to stick to the flour.

I found that I ran out of egg and oatmeal quite quickly, so ended up using two eggs and two bowlfuls of oatmeal.

Put the pieces into a greased baking tray (or two, if you only own small baking trays) and you'll end up with lovely coated fish!

Chuck them in the oven for 25 minutes at 180C.  They will also fry very nicely if you're not worried about WeightWatchers points.

While they're doing, prepare some salad and some nice chunky slices of good quality bread and butter.  Serve with tartare sauce, and lemon and lime wedges if you're feeling poncy.

Taste verdict
Not honestly an unqualified success.  My girlfriend found the oatmeal coating sweet.  I didn't think it was sweet, but it was a bit too crunchy - finer oatmeal may help here.  I like the idea though, and I'll keep playing with it.

Financial verdict
Selection of fish - £4.39.  I didn't really need three fillets between two people.  I already had the tilapia and cod, but I was in the supermarket for something else today and I couldn't resist the trout.
2 eggs - 33p (from my friend who keeps chickens - they're cheaper and far, far better than anything from the shops).
Salad - not much.  Let's say £1 for two people?
Flour, oatmeal, dill, bread - pennies, from store.

£2.86 per portion.  But this was an extravagant version, two fillets of fish would have been enough!  I haven't included the lemon slices, because that was an unusual cheffy touch - a squirt of jif lemon would have done the job.

The skinny
Cut fish fillets into equal sized pieces.

Coat with flour, then egg, then fine oatmeal.

Put the pieces into a greased baking tray.

Cook at 180C for 25 minutes, until the crust goes brown.

Serve with salad, fresh bread and tartare sauce.