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April 10, 2019

Poor Man’s Lobster

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Poor Man’s Lobster – What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this seafood is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no “fishy” taste. This recipe really does make cod taste like lobster!

Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!

This post includes affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.

I absolutely love lobster. Every time my husband and I are out for a special dinner my mouth starts watering at the thought of this scrumptious delicacy (I live in the Midwest remember) being on the restaurant’s specials board. But even when it is, I seem to always pass it up due to the high price tag and the guilt I’d feel following the meal. Sad, right?

Well, to turn my frown upside down I’ve learned how to make a mean broiled lobster tail for special occasions at home (buying and preparing it yourself costs roughly half of what you’d pay at a restaurant around here) and for a family dinner during the week, I opt for my tried and true broiled cod recipe we call Poor Man’s Lobster here in Wisconsin.

WHAT IS POOR MAN’S LOBSTER?

Poor Man’s Lobster refers to a Midwestern white fish prepared to mimic the taste of lobster. Here in Wisconsin it’s a super common dish to find on Friday night fish fry menus across the state.

When prepared as instructed below, the cod has the texture and consistency of lobster and tastes almost like the real thing.

I promise it will not taste “fishy” and your house will not reek of seafood for the next several days. People who don’t even like fish, like this recipe, and it’s been known to please even the pickiest eaters – AKA my children.

Poor Man’s Lobster is easy, delicious and healthy (for the most part). If you want to substitute the sugar with Splenda, fine. If you want to use less butter, fine. But don’t substitute margarine for the butter – it has too watery of a consistency.

Roll up your sleeves, get your ingredients together and let’s make some Poor Man’s Lobster! It’s pretty safe to say this could easily become a staple meal in your home after you try it!

HOW TO MAKE POOR MAN’S LOBSTER

To make this delicious Wisconsin classic, you’ll need:

  • Cod fillets
  • Sugar
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Lemon pepper seasoning
  • Paprika
  • Fresh lemon
  • Melted butter 

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING POOR MAN’S LOBSTER

Begin preheating your broiler on low and follow the steps below:

steps for making poor man's lobster

  1. Begin by covering a broiling pan with aluminum foil. Shape the foil to the grooves of your pan to catch the excess liquid and spray with foil with nonstick spray.
  2. Add 6 cups of water to a mixing bowl and add in a cup of sugar.
  3. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the sugar-water mixture and stir well.
  4. Place the cod fillets in a large saucepan and pour the water-mixture over the fish. The water-mixture should fully cover the fish, if it doesn’t add more water. Bring the water to a boil over a medium-high heat and boil for 3 to 5 minutes depending on the thickness of the cod fillet.

BROILING THE POOR MAN’S LOBSTER

steps for preparing cod
  1. Remove the cod from the water with tongs taking care not to break the fillets in half. Place the cod fillets on the foil-lined broiler pan.
    If you use something other than a broiler pan (like a cookie sheet) make sure to blot the excess water off of the fish. Using a broiler pan prevents the fish from sitting in the excess liquid when in the oven.
  2. Brush some melted butter on the tops of the fillets.
  3. Sprinkle on some lemon pepper seasoning and paprika.
  4. Squeeze some lemon juice over all of the fillets and put under the broiler on low for about 7 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. 
Check the broiler periodically to see how the fillets are coming along. When the fish turns an opaque white, you’ll want to pull them out of the oven.
 
Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF FISH CAN YOU USE FOR THIS RECIPE?

Really any type of white fish can be used for this recipe. If you don’t have cod handy, here are a few other types of fish you can try:

  • Haddock
  • Tilapia
  • Burbot
  • Halibut
  • Monkfish
  • Pike
Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!

SHOULD I THAW THE FISH FILLETS?

I always use frozen fillets for this recipe because if they’re thawed, the fillets will literally fall apart in the boiling water in the saucepan. 

Poor Man’s Lobster is a great dinner option when you forget to take something out of the freezer the night before!

Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!

Serve the fish with some melted butter and get ready for the deliciousness!

Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!
 
Now you can enjoy a Wisconsin supper club classic right from the comfort of your own home!
 
Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!
 

CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS SEAFOOD RECIPES?

Lemon Baked Cod
Broiled Lobster Tails
Sheet Pan Cod
Balsamic Glazed Halibut
Garlic Parmesan Orange Roughy
 
Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!
 

Poor Man’s Lobster

Poor Man's Lobster - What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no "fishy" taste. It really does taste like lobster!
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★★★★★

4.7 from 23 reviews

What a great meal to put together for a dinner party or just a quiet night at home. The way this cod is prepared brings out the freshness in the seafood with no “fishy” taste. It really does taste like lobster!

Ingredients

  • 6 (6 oz. cod fillets)
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • Melted butter (to brush fillets and for dipping)
  • 1/2 lemon
  • Paprika and lemon-pepper seasoning to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your broiler.
  2. Wrap a broiler pan with aluminum foil (easier clean up) and spray with nonstick spray. Make sure you shape the aluminum foil to the grooves on your broiler pan so the excess liquid has somewhere to go and your fish doesn’t have to sit in it.
  3. Place the fish in a large saucepan. Mix together the water, sugar, and salt. Pour the water-mixture over the fish. The water-mixture should fully cover the fish, if it doesn’t add more water. Bring the water to a boil over a medium-high heat. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes depending on the thickness of the cod fillet.
  4. Remove fillets from water, brush with melted butter, and season with lemon-pepper and paprika. Squeeze some lemon juice over the top.
  5. Broil for about 7 minutes on low or until the fillets are opaque and flake with a fork. Serve with melted butter.

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  1. Anonymous says

    April 22, 2021 at 9:17 pm

    Super easy and delicious! I cannot wait to make this again!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    May 5, 2021 at 11:42 am

    I have to try this recipe. I loved lobster growing up but have become allergic to it. In any form it will make my very sick. The thought of that warm buttery crunch is such a long forgotten flavor I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 6, 2021 at 11:32 am

      Oh, I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  3. Cindy says

    June 25, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    Hi Sara, Just found this recipe and am excited to make. Here’s my question – I have a gas stove and broil is 500 degrees but I have an airfryer, what is a low temp for broiling?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 29, 2021 at 4:00 pm

      Hi Cindy! My oven has a high broil and a low broil. I would just set on broil and maybe lower your oven rack a bit more to the middle of the oven. You may need to use a digital thermometer when you make the recipe for the first time. The internal temp of the cod should reach 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit.

      Reply
  4. Brent says

    July 16, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    What a super recipe! I’ve looked at it several times and I just made it today! According to my wife, we will continue to make it this way! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 20, 2021 at 3:23 pm

      Well, I’m so glad you finally tried it, Brent! So happy to hear your wife enjoyed it as well!

      Reply
  5. Kat says

    August 11, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    I was a little worried about making this as cod is pretty expensive now. But it turned out delicious. Hubby was impressed and that’s my aim when trying new recipes. Thank you for posting. I will make this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      August 16, 2021 at 10:10 am

      So glad you and your hubby enjoyed it, Kat!

      Reply
  6. Don says

    October 24, 2021 at 4:34 pm

    This should be called, “Extremely broke” mans lobster. I followed this recipe to the T using fresh cod. (I am a chef) The texture is much too flakey and soft and is nothing like the stringy, slightly chewy lobster meat. The flavor also is nothing like lobster, the sugar water does not sweeten it as you would think. DO NOT expect this to be close to lobster because it isn’t, or waste a good filet of Cod or any other fish. The Monk Fish can resemble lobster meat, but still isn’t the same. Sorry to bust your bubble!

    ★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 25, 2021 at 7:46 am

      I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe, Don. This is a Midwestern classic. I would never describe lobster meat as been stringy or chewy and cod should certainly be flaky if you’ve prepared it correctly. This recipe is a family favorite but obviously not for everyone. And that’s okay. Thanks much for your comment.

      Reply
  7. Nancy Snook says

    November 5, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe. My mom used to make poor man’s lobster when I was young and I haven’t had it in over 30 years. My husband is not a fish eater but I keep trying. Tonight was a winner! He will never admit to loving it, but he ate a few pieces. πŸ™‚

    Also, I used thawed cod and it still worked. I can’t wait to try it again with the frozen cod.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 14, 2021 at 6:04 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe and it sounds like your husband “maybe” did, too. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Janice says

    January 17, 2022 at 2:40 pm

    This is one of my favorite meals! My parents used to add bay leaf and allspice to the boiling water as well. All else is right on cue!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. Sally Barry says

    March 25, 2022 at 5:34 pm

    Well, it ain’t lobster, but it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 29, 2022 at 11:11 am

      Ha! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  10. Mary Stucki says

    June 14, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    Just to be clear, the cod is frozen before putting it in the sugar water?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 18, 2022 at 9:45 pm

      Yes, it should be frozen!

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Sara!

I’m a Mid-Western girl with a Type A personality who lives to entertain. I believe it’s the special touches that make all the difference when it comes to family, home and a happy life. Read more

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