Air Fryer Paleo Fish Sticks with Tartar Sauce

These air fryer fish sticks are a healthier alternative to traditional fried fish sticks, and they're just as crispy and delicious. They're made with a paleo-friendly breading of tapioca flour and arrowroot powder, and they're cooked in an air fryer so they're nice and crispy without being greasy.

Fish sticks are a classic American comfort food, but they're often made with unhealthy ingredients like white bread crumbs and deep-fried in oil. This recipe for air fryer paleo fish sticks is a healthier alternative that's just as crispy and delicious. The key to making these fish sticks crispy is to use a breading that's made with a combination of tapioca flour and arrowroot powder. Tapioca flour is a starch that's extracted from the root of the cassava plant. It's a good source of resistant starch, which is a type of starch that resists digestion and has been shown to have several health benefits, including reducing blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity. Arrowroot powder is another starch that's made from the root of the arrowroot plant. It's a good source of dietary fiber and has a neutral flavor, which makes it a good choice for breading fish. When you combine tapioca flour and arrowroot powder, you get a breading that's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The tapioca flour provides the crunch, while the arrowroot powder helps to bind the breading together and gives it a slightly chewy texture. To make these fish sticks, you'll start by cutting the fish into sticks. Then, you'll dredge the fish sticks in the breading mixture. You'll want to make sure that the fish sticks are evenly coated with the breading. Once the fish sticks are breaded, you'll place them in the air fryer basket. You'll want to make sure that the fish sticks are not touching each other. This will help them to cook evenly. Cook the fish sticks in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through and golden brown. You'll want to flip the fish sticks halfway through cooking so that they cook evenly on both sides. Once the fish sticks are cooked, you can serve them with your favorite dipping sauce. I like to serve them with a tartar sauce made with mayonnaise, capers, and dill. These air fryer paleo fish sticks are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional fried fish sticks. They're crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and they're made with healthy ingredients.

Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 12 | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound cod filet, cut into sticks
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a shallow bowl, combine tapioca flour, arrowroot powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Dredge fish sticks in the flour mixture, ensuring they are evenly coated.
4. Place fish sticks in the air fryer basket and drizzle with olive oil.
5. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until fish is cooked through and golden brown, flipping halfway through.
6. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, capers, and dill to make the tartar sauce.
7. Serve fish sticks with tartar sauce for dipping.
8. Enjoy your crispy and paleo-friendly fish sticks!

Why It Works

• The combination of tapioca flour and arrowroot powder creates a crispy breading that's also tender on the inside.
• Cooking the fish sticks in an air fryer helps them to cook evenly and get crispy without being greasy.
• Dredging the fish sticks in the breading mixture before cooking helps to create a crispy crust.