The Best Way To Cook Jumbo Perch From Lake Erie

​I’ve had jumbo perch from Lake Erie many different ways, but this is my favourite. Watch the video to see how I do it.

Here are the main ingredients.
-pre-heated vegetable, canola or corn oil in a frying pan (only about 1 cm or less)
-Flour or Fish Crisp
-2-3 eggs beaten in a wide bowl, add some milk (just like scrambled eggs)
-fresh jumbo perch fillets from Lake Erie (hopefully caught by you!)
-corn flake crumbs
Here are the directions, as seen in the video.
Pre-heat some oil in a pan while you prepare your perch fillets.
Place the flour or fish crisp, and corn flake crumbs in separate zip-lock plastic bags.
Place a bit of salt on the perch fillets before adding any flour or fish crisp.
Take perch fillets, one at a time and place them in the bag of flour or fish crisp.
When the perch fillet is completely coated, take it out and place the fillet in the egg to ensure it gets completely coated with egg. The egg will help the corn flake crumbs stick.
When the perch fillet is completely coated with egg, allow excess egg to drain off the fillet and then place the fillet in the corn flake crumbs.
Ensure the perch fillet is completely coated in corn flake crumbs on both sides.
Then place the corn-flake crumb coated fillet in the frying pan with hot oil.
(Before you add the perch to the frying pan, the oil should be tested with a SMALL drop of water to ensure it is hot enough).
CAUTIONDo NOT use more than a small drop of water or the oil will EXPLODE sending hot oil in the air everywhere. Do NOT overheat the oil to the point it is smoking. This will mean the oil is too hot.Add a plateful of perch fillets to the frying pan (add fillets one at a time) and cook them until they are golden brown on both sides.
Place a sheet of paper towel in a dish to absorb excess oil from the perch fillets.
You can stack the fillets on the same dish in layers by placing a sheet of paper towel on each layer of fillets added to the dish.
You’re now ready for your perch eating feast.
Like my father-in-law Ed Cechinni used to say……Ah! Perch…taste just like candy!
I hope you enjoy this recipe for Lake Erie perch fillets.  You can use this recipe for other fish too, like walleye and pike.  These are all my favourites.

Maddalena Environmental Inc.
​Al Maddalena