• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
Follow me on Facebook!Follow me on Twitter!Follow me on Pinterest!Follow me on Instagram!Follow me on Google Plus!Follow me on BlogLovin!
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Me

Bitz & Giggles

Delicious bitz & tips for a happy life.

  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Salads
    • Main Courses
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • DIY & Cleaning
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Beauty & Health Tips
    • Family Fun
    • Printables
    • Pets
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Teacher Week
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Vacation Tips
  • Resources
    • Blogging Tips
    • Time Management
  • Shop

April 10, 2019

Poor Man’s Lobster

31480shares

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!

 

Updated: A few new photos have been created for this readers’ favorite!

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.

The cod, when prepared as instructed below, 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.

I still haven’t shared the best part of this recipe. You know those days when dinner sneaks up on you or you’ve been at work all day and realize you never took any meat or fish out of the freezer to feed your family that evening?

Yep, you know what I’m talking about. Well, this recipe is the ticket because you don’t need to thaw the cod beforehand. In fact, I prefer NOT to thaw the cod when I make this. Keep reading and I’ll tell you why.

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!

For this recipe, you’ll need 6 (6 oz.) frozen cod fillets, 1 cup sugar, 6 cups water, 2 tablespoons salt, lemon pepper seasoning, paprika, 1/2 lemon and melted butter.

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!
 
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.
 
Next you’ll need 6 cups of water in a bowl, salt and sugar.
 
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!
 
Add a cup of sugar to the bowl of water.
 
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 add two tablespoons of salt and stir.
 
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!
 
Put the frozen cod fillets into a large saucepan. I used 7 fillets since mine were a little smaller than 6 oz. each. Pour the water mixture over the fillets.
 
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!
 
Bring the water to a boil for 3 minutes. Here’s where the frozen fillets come into play. When you boil the fillets while frozen they’re less likely to break apart during the boiling step.
 
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!
 
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.
 
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!
 
Brush some melted butter on both sides of the fillets.
 
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!
 
Sprinkle on some lemon pepper seasoning and paprika.
 
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!
 
Squeeze some lemon juice over all of the fillets and put under the broiler for about 7 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. I always broil mine on low.
 
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!
 
Here is my observer. She colors while she waits for her dinner. Notice her favorite puppy next to her. He never leaves her side. Puppy gets baths weekly.
 
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!
 
Alright, where were we? Keep checking to see how the fillets are coming. When the fish turns an opaque white, you’ll want to pull the fillets 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!

Ummm, yum. This is looking really good. I love dressing up fish with lemon.

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!
 
In Wisconsin, Poor Man’s Lobster is on most of our supper club’s Friday menus. Now, you can enjoy it 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!
 
 Hope your family loves this recipe as much as ours does!
 
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 fish recipes?

Lemon Baked Cod
Sheet Pan Cod
Balsamic Glazed Halibut
Garlic Parmesan Orange Roughy
 

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!
Print

★★★★★

4.8 from 18 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.

(Visited 392,763 times, 1 visits today)

Related

Share this Post
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. ML White says

    February 28, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    I grew up on the west coast next to the ocean but didn’t appreciate seafood until I was much older and wiser. This recipe makes my mouth water. It looks awesome. I’ve never tried lobster but I am going to cook this recipe in the coming week and can officially say I’ve tried poor man’s lobster. I love cod! Yum. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    April 23, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    I’ve been looking for a recipe for what seems to be forever! I love “Fish Fry Friday’s” and every week I wish there was a way I could make this at home. Thank you for posting this! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 24, 2014 at 1:14 pm

      That’s awesome, Stephanie. I sure hope you enjoy it! It’s definitely my favorite way to prepare cod at home!

      Reply
      • Sharon e Davis says

        April 27, 2016 at 3:05 pm

        Am I reading this correctly? There are 205 grams of carbs per serving? I am diabetic, could you leave out the sugar?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          April 27, 2016 at 4:08 pm

          When I switched over to a new recipe card plug-in some strange things happened with the nutritional information on my posts. I’m going through as quickly as possible to remove the information because it is incorrect. So sorry about that!

          Reply
          • Sarah Paul says

            January 29, 2018 at 6:25 pm

            We can’t have sugar…Can I leave it out or substitute something else??

          • Sara says

            February 1, 2018 at 9:58 pm

            The sugar is what gives the fish the sweetness of lobster. If you leave it out, it just won’t be as sweet, that’s all.

          • Patty Summets says

            May 1, 2018 at 5:46 pm

            What is the nutritional value?

          • Sara says

            May 7, 2018 at 7:39 am

            Hi Patty, I don’t include nutritional information with my recipes. One of the recipe card programs I had at one point automatically used to calculate that info but it never seemed to be accurate. I’d rather not include it than provide inaccurate information. Hope that makes sense.

  3. Monique says

    May 29, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    This looks amazing!!! Do you know if this would work with other types of fish? I keep tilapia on hand and would love to know if you’ve tried this with any other fish.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 29, 2014 at 10:45 pm

      Hi Monique! I’ve only used cod with this recipe. I’m wondering if tilapia might be a bit too delicate for the boiling water process that’s used at the beginning of the recipe. I would love to hear how it turns out if you decide to use tilapia. Believe it or not, we just had this tonight for dinner! It’s one of our favorites!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        April 17, 2020 at 3:18 pm

        how much sugar with 2 filets ? thank you

        Reply
        • Sara says

          April 18, 2020 at 9:27 pm

          You could probably cut the recipe in half if you’re only cooking two fillets.

          Reply
  4. Kimberly says

    June 15, 2014 at 11:33 am

    I’m wondering if this could be done without sugar or sugar substitute and still come out tasting like lobster?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 16, 2014 at 11:15 pm

      Hi Kimberly, I don’t see why you couldn’t use sugar substitute. You’re essentially just sweetening the water the fish boils in before you broil it. Good luck!

      Reply
  5. Jill Stockwell says

    July 28, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Hi Sara,
    Should I adjust the water, sugar, salt ratios if I am only preparing 1 lb. of cod? Making it just for me

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 29, 2014 at 10:24 am

      Hi Jill! You could try adjusting the ingredients, but you’ll want to make sure you cover the cod with the water mixture regardless of how many pieces of fish you’re preparing. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  6. Debbie says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Just made this – delicious, and since I didn’t “dip” in butter, it was rather healthy with a small salad. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 6, 2015 at 4:32 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Debbie! This really is our favorite way to prepare cod!

      Reply
  7. Annette Harrison says

    February 12, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    I have used both cod and haddock with this recipe and like it either way. I’m also from Wisconsin, and have made this since the 1970’s.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 15, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      I agree, Annette. This recipe turns out delicious with both cod and haddock!

      Reply
  8. sherri garner says

    February 20, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I use olive oil with truffle salt and herbs de province. All ingriedents go onto a parchment paper, gently coat the cod and place in the center of a large square. Grind on lemon pepper to taste. Read about en papilote, which is a great way to cook. and fold and seal the paper. Cook 10-12 minues in toaster oven or oven. You can also put in some sliced mushrooms.

    Why use unhealthy sugar if you do not need to?. Cod is delicious pan sauteed, or fried, steamed or pretty much any way you cook it it has a lobster like taste.

    Frankly anything is good dipped in melted butter…Try something else…an Asian sauce, olive tapenade, a small bit of lemon preserves if you need the sugar.

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      July 3, 2015 at 12:45 pm

      Go away! People like you really irk me with your unnecessary comments. This recipe is delicious as is. If you want to post your own recipe get your own blog and post it there. And thanks so much Sara. Your recipes are wonderful.

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 29, 2019 at 7:51 am

        Yes!!

        Reply
      • Marie says

        October 17, 2019 at 12:37 pm

        Honestly! I appreciate this brand new take on preparing cod, so thank you Sara, for sharing. And @Sherri Garner? Go make your own venue and post all the adaptations of other ppl’s recipes your heart desires lol

        Reply
  9. Lydia says

    March 29, 2015 at 7:46 pm

    Tried it for the first time for dinner today, loved it!!! I will cut on the sugar next time but I am curious as to why the sugar??

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 30, 2015 at 12:39 pm

      Lydia, the sugar helps give the fish that lobster-like taste. I’ve had other readers use Splenda for the recipe instead of sugar and they’ve been happy with the results, too!

      Reply
      • Lydia says

        March 30, 2015 at 9:38 pm

        Great, that’s good to know, thank you! And I love that you post step by step pictures, I am a visual person and like to see what it is suppose to look like.

        Reply
  10. Jessica says

    May 30, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    how long do you boil the fish if it is not frozen?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 31, 2015 at 7:41 pm

      You can probably cut the time in half. If it looks like the fish is starting to break apart during the boil, it’s time to take it out!

      Reply
  11. Linda Nadspal says

    August 24, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Trying this tonight with some friends….going to poach it at home and finish up at her house so it is nice and warm. Love lobster, and most shell fish so this FL girl is eager to see how this is.

    Reply
    • Linda Nadspal says

      August 25, 2015 at 7:22 am

      Excellent!!!! Since I am on a diet that allows no red meat, only chicken, fish and occasional pork, I will be eating this alot!

      Reply
    • Sara says

      August 25, 2015 at 7:56 pm

      I can’t wait to hear how it all turned out, Linda! I’m hoping the fish didn’t get rubbery at all after poaching and before putting it in the oven. Let me know how it was!

      Reply
  12. TERREA PUTERBAUGH says

    October 3, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    I used cod and flounder. They was both wonderful. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 4, 2015 at 8:17 pm

      You are so welcome!

      Reply
  13. kookooracharabioso says

    October 12, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    I did this once before and it was great. This time the fish went from frozen to shredded and I dumped in colander to drain – and that’s where 9/ 10 of my fish went. In the middle of the night at the broke time of month wow – plus so embarrassing. 28

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 17, 2015 at 9:21 pm

      Maybe the pieces were thinner or smaller and you just boiled it too long. If you see the fish start to break apart at all, remove it from the burner and transfer to the baking sheet. It’s ready to go into the oven!

      Reply
  14. HL GIBSON says

    December 21, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    As a Jewish gal, I don’t indulge in shellfish, but a co-worker kept talking about New England lobster rolls until my mouth began to water! I had to find an alternative and came across your blog post. I followed it to the letter, chilled the cod turned lobster, and made lobster rolls with it. My husband could not stop talking about the mean well into the next day! We’ve already decided we must make this recipe again very soon. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 23, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad! Thank you so much for stopping by to share your experience. This is truly one of our family’s favorite recipes!

      Reply
    • Natalie says

      June 21, 2016 at 8:15 pm

      Wow, that is a great idea. As I have adopted the kosher/biblical way of not eating certain foods. In fact this is how i found this recipe. I grew up eating everything seafood but no more. I was craving lobster or California rolls. Ive made the poor man’s lobster many times but never thought to roll it into sushi! Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
    • Nariyah says

      June 6, 2018 at 2:36 pm

      As a Messianic Jew, I know exactly what you mean. I wasn’t born into it so I know what shellfish taste like so I won’t lie, I sometimes crave it but refuse to eat it. I’ve made it and eaten it the way Sara instructs but Ive also made California rolls with it. Actaully, I made a deconstructed California roll salad. It’s awesome to have substitutes that allow me to make great meals for my family. Teaching my kids now how many substitutes and options they have.

      Sara, thank you for sharing this recipe and also the pictures for is visual learner! I’ve been using this recipe for a few years now.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Liz says

        December 28, 2019 at 8:47 pm

        Why do you have this same picture under two different names, Natalie/Nariyah? And why did you reply to yourself?

        Reply
  15. valarie says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:34 pm

    This was wonderful- and i didn’t even use cod, but skinny pollack, I just adjusted for that. Lobster lover me was fooled- can’t wait to fool my friends too, thank you!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 15, 2016 at 6:18 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad you liked it, Valarie! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  16. Dee says

    February 9, 2016 at 1:19 pm

    This was such a hit last night for dinner thank you so much for sharing!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  17. Heather says

    May 18, 2016 at 4:31 pm

    I love this recipe and so does my husband, but now I am on no sugar diet. Has anyone tried it without using the sugar?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 19, 2016 at 10:13 pm

      The sugar is what gives the cod the sweetness of lobster. I’ve never left it out, but I don’t see why you couldn’t. Maybe just amp up the lemon for some extra flavor?

      Reply
    • Natalie says

      June 21, 2016 at 8:16 pm

      I wonder if you can use agave syrup? Unless you cant do any sweeteners at all?

      Reply
  18. Ed says

    December 5, 2016 at 6:05 pm

    Just made this tonight. Kinda winged it…. My wife and kids loved it! I don’t know what to do to top it. Thanks Sara

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 10, 2016 at 10:10 pm

      So glad to hear that, Ed! This recipe is one of our family favorites as well!

      Reply
  19. Beth says

    December 5, 2016 at 6:14 pm

    Hi Sara,
    I made this for dinner tonight – we loved it! The cod was a little on the tough side. I’m wondering if I over cooked it or maybe undercooked it? I can’t wait to make it again and want to get it right next time. I think I boiled it the right length of time, it was just starting to fall apart. Any suggestions?

    (& thanks so much for this! I will be making often)
    Beth

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 10, 2016 at 10:09 pm

      It sounds like you may have overcooked it a bit. Also, did you boil the cod while it was still frozen? If not, you may want to try that next time! Good luck and I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        December 11, 2016 at 8:25 am

        Yes, I boiled it while still frozen. I’ll try to make sure I don’t over-cook it next time. Already looking forward to making it again! thanks 🙂 Beth

        Reply
  20. Brandon says

    April 14, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    Awesome recipe​ I used haddock it tasted like king crab most awesome recipe ever thank you

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 14, 2017 at 9:50 pm

      We just had it tonight, too!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  21. Gretchen says

    May 18, 2017 at 10:43 am

    When you broil the cod, do you move your oven rack to the highest level or do you just keep it in the middle? I can’t adjust my broiler heat, such as low, medium, high, etc.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 24, 2017 at 2:28 pm

      I normally will move my rack closer to the broiler.

      Reply
  22. Tina says

    August 3, 2017 at 6:49 pm

    Just a quick “thank you” for this recipe. It is delicious, and my husband says it is much better than any of the restaurants in our area. Making this again tomorrow. It’s at least once a month on our menu.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      August 8, 2017 at 10:25 pm

      What a compliment. Thanks so much, Tina! This recipe is one of our family favorites as well!

      Reply
  23. Rhonda says

    September 1, 2017 at 1:22 am

    I don’t have a broiler. Would a 450* oven work?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 14, 2017 at 3:34 pm

      It could. I’ve always just used the broiler. If you do try the 450 degree oven, have a meat thermometer read and consistently take the temp while the cod filets bake. You’ll want the cod’s internal temp to be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

      Reply
  24. Quinie Leary says

    October 18, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    I am not a lobster fan, but I AM a Wisconsinite, and grew up on Poor Mans Lobster. I prefer it to the real thing and appreciate the recipe! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 29, 2017 at 4:45 pm

      Poor Man’s Lobster certainly isn’t difficult to find at any of the supper clubs here in Wisconsin. It’s always been a favorite of mine as well and I love that I can prepare it for my family at home! So glad you like the recipe!

      Reply
  25. Carrie says

    December 16, 2017 at 8:01 am

    My husband is on a low sodium diet do you think I could make this with out the salt?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 17, 2017 at 7:58 pm

      I think it would be okay without the salt. If you try it, please let me know what you think!

      Reply
  26. Jen says

    January 26, 2018 at 3:39 pm

    So good!! My broiler only has a “high” setting, so that’s what I used. Probably left it in there a minute too long, but it was still amazing. My husband couldn’t get enough of it and my kids liked it, too. The kiddo who doesn’t usually like sweetness in her dinner food liked it more than the one who does. Love that it starts with frozen fish, such a time saver! Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 27, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      Jen, your comment made my day! I’m so glad your family enjoyed the recipe. I love that it starts with frozen fish, too! Makes things so much easier!

      Reply
    • Jen says

      March 17, 2018 at 12:50 am

      I tried this with swai fillets tonight – turned out awesome, and the family loved it! Swai is pretty thin (not as thin/delicate as tilapia, though) so I didn’t boil it as long and didn’t have it in the broiler as long either (especially since my broiler only has a “high” setting). Just wanted to post as I’ve seen other commenters wondering about using other fish. Thanks again for the awesome recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 23, 2018 at 10:41 pm

        I’ve never heard of swai, but now you have me interested! I think I need to try it!

        Reply
        • Jen says

          March 25, 2018 at 9:36 am

          No – don’t try it! It’s Vietnamese catfish and supposedly is not good for you (because of how it is raised). I just looked it up and can’t in good conscious recommend it. 🙂 But know that your recipe works great with thinner fish! 🙂

          Reply
  27. Jennifer says

    February 3, 2018 at 6:59 am

    I stumbled across this recipie when looking for a new way to cook frozen cod since I love to cook it but thawing creates a bit of a mess. I am even more impressed that you have been responding to almost every reader’s comment for almost 4 years! That is awesome.

    Can’t wait to try this and see what other great ideas you have to share 🙂

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 11, 2018 at 9:37 pm

      Reader comments make me so happy. You all are the reason I do what I do! I really hope you enjoyed the cod. If you had a chance to try it, I’d love to know what you thought. Thanks so much for leaving a comment – I hope you stick around for more delicious recipes this year!

      Reply
  28. Babe says

    February 21, 2018 at 8:45 am

    This was so tasty! I had never broiled before but I’m so glad I did. Thank you for posting this recipe my bf loved it and he’s picky about food.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 28, 2018 at 10:20 pm

      I just made this the other night for our family again. It’s one of our favorites. I love that the fish can be frozen before preparing – the broiling makes things so much easier, too! I’m so glad your boyfriend enjoyed it!

      Reply
      • Kathy Bjorklund says

        March 6, 2018 at 5:47 pm

        I have made this for years and did not use sugar but tied a small bag of pickling spices in the boiling water. Also had not tried the broiler, but will do that now also. Kathy in MN

        Reply
        • Sara says

          March 9, 2018 at 7:21 am

          Hi Kathy! Pickling spices, of course! Did you always just bake the fish in the oven rather than using a broiler before this?

          Reply
          • Kathy Bjorklund says

            March 9, 2018 at 7:29 am

            I have always just boiled the cod in water until done, did not use the broiler at all. Also, I have not used any salt in the water. The butter or tasty margarine besides pickling spices were all I used.

  29. Janet says

    March 18, 2018 at 8:06 pm

    I had poor mans lobster in AZ, I’m trying this for dinner, thanks so much for the recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  30. Lindsay says

    March 25, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    Oh gosh… the pics of your daughter coloring and then just man handling the fillet of fish are hilarious.. going to try tonight! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 3, 2018 at 8:36 pm

      I know, right?! Hope you enjoyed the recipe, Lindsay. Let me know if you made it!

      Reply
  31. Laura Harrison says

    March 31, 2018 at 7:33 pm

    Well I believe I messed it up. The texture was… well not sure how to describe it. I’ll have to try again. I made two bowls of sugar water because inky 4 cods would fit in one pan. Not sure what I did wrong.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 3, 2018 at 8:30 pm

      Was the cod frozen when you boiled it in the pan. If not, that could have been the problem?

      Reply
  32. Sue says

    April 22, 2018 at 5:51 am

    I am psyched about this recipe—my mom has gout and can’t have shellfish. Have you ever made a poor man’s lobster roll with it? She is visiting this coming week and my plan is to make this ahead and serve two ways: a) mayo based salad, and b) serve it hot on a toasted and buttered potato roll with drawn butter and chives. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 22, 2018 at 10:07 pm

      I’ve never made a roll with the poor man’s lobster but your ideas sound delicious, Sue. I really hope your mom enjoys it. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  33. Leah says

    May 22, 2018 at 7:48 pm

    Can you use a different type of fish, like for instance swai fish? Or does it have to be cod? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 22, 2018 at 10:25 pm

      I know readers have used other kinds of fish. I’ve always stuck with cod.

      Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    June 8, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    I make mine boiled in 7 up. Not diet.. less sugar for us diabetes.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 11, 2018 at 10:42 pm

      Great idea!

      Reply
  35. Joni says

    July 12, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    Made this tonight. It was really good. I sprinkled the fillets with shrimp chili powder and paprika. Thanks for the awesome recipe.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 18, 2018 at 2:36 pm

      So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Joni!

      Reply
  36. Rudy P says

    August 30, 2018 at 10:27 am

    Hi Sara thanks for the recipe and tip, will definitely try it. I have a question: could the cod be substituted for lobster in seafood stuffed mushrooms? My wife and I really enjoy the seafood stuffed mushrooms when dinning at Red Lobster and liking to cook wanted to make some homemade ones. I was curious if the cod would work as one of the ingredients for the stuffing along with the crab meat, minced garlic, seasoned croutons and topped with mozzarella cheese. Any advice or tips you could give for trying this is greatly appreciated, thanks.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 1, 2018 at 10:26 am

      Hi Rudy! I would make the Poor Man’s Lobster recipe first to see how you like the taste of the cod. If you enjoy it, then YES, I would definitely substitute this cod for the lobster. I bet it would be delicious! Good luck and let me know how everything turns out!

      Reply
  37. Mariel Campbell says

    September 8, 2018 at 6:45 am

    Cant wait to try this. Was recently diagnosed with a shellfish allergy. This made me really bummed because lobster and shrimp are favorites of mine. Now I can still eat my “lobster” without needing a side of benadryl.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 12, 2018 at 2:50 pm

      I hope you enjoyed it, Mariel!

      Reply
  38. Dayna says

    January 10, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    This was excellent!! I used fresh cod, but froze it for a couple hours prior to boiling. I also used artificial sweetener. Tasted wonderful! Both my husband and I enjoyed it! Will definitely save this recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 13, 2019 at 9:01 pm

      I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed the recipe, Dayna! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

      Reply
  39. Jef says

    May 9, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    Meh. — Taste like broiled fish. A lot of steps for something that isn’t remotely lobster.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 13, 2019 at 10:15 pm

      It obviously isn’t lobster, but the taste and texture are similar especially if you’re dipping the cod in the drawn butter while enjoying. Sorry it wasn’t to your liking. It’s a family favorite in our home.

      Reply
  40. Jane says

    September 8, 2019 at 8:37 pm

    I made it with half the sugar and salt. (I’m dieting). It turned out very good. Best to use 2nd, not top positioned rack, to avoid smoke detector going off.

    I’m from Wisconsin too. So glad I can now make baked fish at home. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 11, 2019 at 3:31 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it, Jane! It really is just as good as what the supperclubs serve here in Wisconsin. Thanks so much for leaving a comment!

      Reply
  41. Barbara Karr says

    October 24, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    I couldn’t believe how great this recipe is. I just thought they would taste good, but I didn’t count on it really tasting like
    lobster. But it does! Holy Cats is this good!!!! Made it according to directions. Perfect! Easiest and best fish I ever made. This Wisconsin woman thanks you from the bottom of her midwestern heart.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 28, 2019 at 9:09 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. This is one of our favorite recipes and I may be biased, but I actually think this Poor Man’s Lobster beats out many of our finest supper clubs’ recipes.

      Reply
  42. Judy says

    November 8, 2019 at 10:20 am

    Can this be done in air fryer

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 14, 2019 at 9:32 pm

      Yes! I would put it in at 400°F for 10-13 minutes, depending on the size of fillets. The internal temperature should reach 145°F.

      Reply
  43. Jolie says

    November 10, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    this was an awesome recipe, thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 14, 2019 at 9:27 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  44. Michelle Copley says

    November 20, 2019 at 3:08 pm

    Thank you thank you thank you! Growing up I remember having this and just thought of it the other day. I spent summers in Maine and oh the lobster! But I can’t bring myself to spend that much here in WI! I’ll be trying this this week!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 20, 2019 at 10:43 pm

      Let me know how you like it, Michelle! It’s one of our favorites!

      Reply
  45. Amy McCord says

    January 5, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    Where has this recipe been all my life???? This is so freaking awesome!!! We are watching our carbs, so used Splenda in place of the sugar. Did not broil…put it in a baking dish and popped it into my NuWave oven on the 3″ rack and used the reheat function button…it gives you 4 mins of intense heat…it was perfectly cooked. (I’m providing this info just incase other out there might own a NuWave.)
    Thank You So Much For Sharing!

    ★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 5, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      Amy, thanks so much for sharing instructions for preparation in your NuWave oven! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  46. Mary says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:04 pm

    This was delicious! The only modification I made was used 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup Splenda. I think next time I will reduce it even more, maybe 1/2 cup. Will definitely be making again!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 28, 2020 at 8:42 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it, Mary!

      Reply
  47. Mamydziecko says

    March 24, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    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.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  48. Jen C says

    May 19, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    I get so irritated reading comments for recipes anymore. One hopes to read honest reviews after they tried it. Instead it’s always “can I substitute this for that”, “I don’t have this ingredient” and “I changed the recipe this way” or “I’m on a diet, can’t eat fat or sugar or I’m allergic to…”.
    Seriously, why not find another recipe that suits you, or go to diet restricted sites? Why not start your own recipe vlog? It’s very annoying and narcissistic. This recipe had about 6 ingredients, and 106 people ranting about them.
    Lobster is sweet, therefore sugar is used to make the mock up. Cod is a flaky salt water fish, which would also make sense. Drawn butter and lemon is served with lobster. Etc.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 19, 2020 at 7:35 pm

      Jen, did you try the recipe? If so, I hope you loved it. It’s one of our family favorites!

      Reply
  49. 3J says

    May 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    I enjoy cooking but am a lazy cook who is always looking for a short cut in recipes and than I wonder why it did not turn out? I followed your instructions to a tee and everything was delicious. Even my spouse approved.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 20, 2020 at 10:27 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! P.S. I’m always looking for short cuts, too!

      Reply
  50. Anonymous says

    August 7, 2020 at 6:52 pm

    Love this recipe ❤️

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  51. Annette Greer says

    October 15, 2020 at 8:34 am

    My mom made this back in the 60’s and we all enjoyed it.
    We have been using your recipe 4 years now, and always used Cod fish in the past with great results, HOWEVER…
    …MONKFISH is our go to now!!!
    Monkfish is textured very similarly to lobster with a springier, firmer mouthfeel.
    Total gamechanger friends xx

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 16, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Love this, Annette! I’m going to have to try monkfish. Here in Wisconsin, cod seems easier to find, however.

      Reply
  52. Sissy says

    October 21, 2020 at 7:17 am

    I so wanted this to be amazing. Mine turned out super soggy, maybe because I used tilapia (which is what I had in the freezer). We threw out most of it. I might try it again with cod, but probably not.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 21, 2020 at 1:25 pm

      Sissy, that’s so strange it was soggy. Did you start with frozen tilapia? If you began with frozen fillets, everything should have worked out fine.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

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

Subscribe by Email

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

to stay in the loop on new posts!

Recipes
DIY & Cleaning
Travel
Business Tips
All
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Me
Follow me on Facebook!Follow me on Twitter!Follow me on Pinterest!Follow me on Instagram!Follow me on Google Plus!Follow me on BlogLovin!

© 2021 Bitz and GigglesPrivacy Policy
Website Design by Melissa Rose Design
·
Development by Once Coupled