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:
- 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.
- Add 6 cups of water to a mixing bowl and add in a cup of sugar.
- Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the sugar-water mixture and stir well.
- 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
- 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. - Brush some melted butter on the tops of the fillets.
- Sprinkle on some lemon pepper seasoning and paprika.
- 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.
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
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!
Serve the fish with some melted butter and get ready for the deliciousness!
CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS SEAFOOD RECIPES?
Poor Man's 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)
- ½ lemon
- Paprika and lemon-pepper seasoning to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove fillets from water, brush with melted butter, and season with lemon-pepper and paprika. Squeeze some lemon juice over the top.
- Broil for about 7 minutes on low or until the fillets are opaque and flake with a fork. Serve with melted butter.
Notes
- Adjust Boiling Time Based On Thickness: The boiling time for the cod fillets can vary depending on their thickness. Thicker fillets may require a longer boiling time to cook through properly, while thinner fillets may cook more quickly. Keep an eye on the fillets and adjust the boiling time accordingly to avoid overcooking.
- Properly Shape Aluminum Foil For Easy Cleanup: When wrapping the broiler pan with aluminum foil for easier cleanup, take care to shape the foil to fit the grooves of the pan. This helps ensure that any excess liquid from the boiling process can drain away, preventing the fish from sitting in it and becoming soggy.
- Use Low Broil Setting: When broiling the seasoned cod fillets, opt for the low broil setting to prevent them from cooking too quickly on the outside while remaining undercooked inside. This allows for more even cooking and ensures that the fillets are opaque and flaky when done.
Lindsay
Oh gosh... the pics of your daughter coloring and then just man handling the fillet of fish are hilarious.. going to try tonight! Thanks!
Sara
I know, right?! Hope you enjoyed the recipe, Lindsay. Let me know if you made it!
Janet
I had poor mans lobster in AZ, I'm trying this for dinner, thanks so much for the recipe.
Babe
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.
Sara
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!
Kathy Bjorklund
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
Sara
Hi Kathy! Pickling spices, of course! Did you always just bake the fish in the oven rather than using a broiler before this?
Kathy Bjorklund
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.
Jennifer
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 🙂
Sara
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!
Jen
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!!
Sara
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!
Jen
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!
Sara
I've never heard of swai, but now you have me interested! I think I need to try it!
Jen
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! 🙂
Carrie
My husband is on a low sodium diet do you think I could make this with out the salt?
Sara
I think it would be okay without the salt. If you try it, please let me know what you think!
Ruth Leia Fleisher
Instead of salt in the bowl with the sugar water use some LEMON juice ( juice from half a lemon). the salt part helps firm the flesh of the fish to mimic lobster and the sugar gives the sweetness of the lobster.
Quinie Leary
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!
Sara
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!
Rhonda
I don't have a broiler. Would a 450* oven work?
Sara
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.
Tina
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.
Sara
What a compliment. Thanks so much, Tina! This recipe is one of our family favorites as well!
Gretchen
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.
Sara
I normally will move my rack closer to the broiler.
Brandon
Awesome recipe I used haddock it tasted like king crab most awesome recipe ever thank you
Sara
We just had it tonight, too!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Beth
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
Sara
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!
Beth
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
Ed
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
Sara
So glad to hear that, Ed! This recipe is one of our family favorites as well!
Heather
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?
Sara
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?
Thomas D Hiller
Just because it was boiled in sugar water doesn't mean that the fish absorbed a significant amount. Follow the recipe and enjoy!
Natalie
I wonder if you can use agave syrup? Unless you cant do any sweeteners at all?
Dee
This was such a hit last night for dinner thank you so much for sharing!!