Buttered Toast Crispy Fishwiches

This post is for my dear Guenevere who requested a fish recipe! The Valentine's salmon that the lawyer made was quick and yummy but salmon is not for everyone so this recipe uses a more mild fish. Recipe Rant: Oh Rachael Ray how I despise you and your tv personality. Not to mention your abbreviations and measurement system. But oh how I love your recipes!

Buttered Toast Crispy Fishwiches

(Rachael Ray Magazine)

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons melted butter, plus some for toast
1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning, a palmful
1 tablespoon onion powder, a palmful
1 tablespoon garlic powder, a palmful
Zest of 1 lemon
A couple of tablespoons thyme, freshly chopped
A couple of tablespoons chives, finely chopped
4 pieces cod filet, 6-ounces each (or other firm white fish, such as tilapia)
Salt and pepper
2 egg whites, beaten
4 sandwich-size English muffins, toasted and buttered or some other yummy crusty bread
Garnishes:
Lemon juice or malt vinegar, oil and vinegar-dressed slaw salador shredded iceberg lettuce, bread-and-butter pickle slices, finely chopped red onion
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425˚F.
2. Pour melted butter over Panko crumbs and work into the crumbs to evenly distribute. Season the crumbs with Old Bay, onion and garlic powders, lemon zest, thyme and chives.
3. Season the fish with salt and pepper, and coat in egg whites, then crumbs and arrange on slotted broiler pan or cooling rack arranged over baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes or until deeply golden and crispy, and dress with lemon juice or malt vinegar.
4. Serve on toasted muffin or muffin bread with slaw or shredded lettuce. Top with pickles and onions, and muffin top or toasted muffin bread.

I've made this recipe three times and it's great. It's easy, quick, and baked not fried! I've always used tilapia. One time I omitted the fresh thyme and chives and another I subbed a splash of lemon juice for the zest. Every time it was yummy! The first time I made it into a sandwich but it's so delicious and filling you don't really need the bread (plus it's less carbs!). The Old Bay and Panko crumbs are pretty clutch so I wouldn't recommend changing them. Fresh herbs are way better than dry but if you do decide to use dry herbs make sure to reduce the amount! (a 1:3 ratio, if it's 1 tablespoon fresh, use 1 teaspoon dried) Oh! And I added some shredded parmesan to mine because I'm a cheese fiend.

Look at those fresh herbs from my garden!