Deep-Fried Sole with Homemade Tartar Sauce

Light, crispy deep-fried sole with a golden seasoned crust, delicate flaky fish inside, and zesty homemade tartar sauce — scaled for 1 lb of sole from Svenfish.

Why New England sole

Dover or grey sole (or other thin white fillets from our fresh seafood case) takes beautifully to a quick fry. A three-step breading and one thermometer-read on the oil are all you need for restaurant-style crunch at home.

Ingredients

• 1 lb sole fillets, patted dry
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1¼ cups panko breadcrumbs
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¾ tsp kosher salt (divided), plus more for tartar
• ½ tsp black pepper (divided)
• 2 cups neutral oil for frying (or enough for 1½ inches in your pan)
• Tartar sauce: ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp finely chopped dill pickles, 1 tbsp finely chopped capers, juice of ½ lemon, 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, salt and pepper to taste
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving

Instructions

1. Stir tartar ingredients in a small bowl. Taste, season, and chill until serving.
2. Set up three shallow dishes: flour with about ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper; beaten eggs; panko mixed with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and the remaining ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper.
3. Pat the 1 lb sole dry. Dredge in flour, shake off excess, dip in egg, then press into panko on both sides. Rest on a wire rack 5–10 minutes so the coating adheres.
4. Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry fillets in batches without crowding, turning once, until deep golden, about 2–3 minutes per side. Drain on a rack or paper towels.
5. Serve immediately with tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and a simple side salad or fries.

Pro tips

• Let coated fish rest before frying — fewer bald spots in the crust.
• If the oil dips below 340°F, the crust absorbs fat; if it spikes above 365°F, the panko burns before the fish cooks.
• Thinner fillets cook faster; check early for flaking.

Order wild-caught sole and whitefish for home delivery across Massachusetts, or browse shellfish and more for your next fry night.