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 seafood is prepared brings out the freshness in the cod with no “fishy” taste. This recipe really does make cod taste like lobster!

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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:

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.

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. 

Poor Man’s 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.