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.
Amy McCord
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!
Sara
Amy, thanks so much for sharing instructions for preparation in your NuWave oven! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Michelle Copley
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!
Sara
Let me know how you like it, Michelle! It's one of our favorites!
Jolie
this was an awesome recipe, thank you!
Sara
So glad you enjoyed it!
Judy
Can this be done in air fryer
Sara
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.
Barbara Karr
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.
Sara
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.
Jane
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!
Sara
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!
Jef
Meh. — Taste like broiled fish. A lot of steps for something that isn’t remotely lobster.
Sara
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.
Dayna
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!
Sara
I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed the recipe, Dayna! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Mariel Campbell
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.
Sara
I hope you enjoyed it, Mariel!
Rudy P
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.
Sara
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!
Joni
Made this tonight. It was really good. I sprinkled the fillets with shrimp chili powder and paprika. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Sara
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Joni!
Anonymous
I make mine boiled in 7 up. Not diet.. less sugar for us diabetes.
Sara
Great idea!
Leah
Can you use a different type of fish, like for instance swai fish? Or does it have to be cod? Thank you!
Sara
I know readers have used other kinds of fish. I've always stuck with cod.
Sue
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!
Sara
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!
Laura Harrison
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.
Sara
Was the cod frozen when you boiled it in the pan. If not, that could have been the problem?