If you’re looking for an easy recipe that will wow your guests, and your taste buds, make this Crispy Fish with Sage Butter Sauce. It is perfect for special occasions but easy enough for a weeknight!
You guys, if you’ve never had Sage Butter Sauce I am about to rock your world. This decadent, butter sauce is one of those recipes that elevates any dish but is ridiculously easy to make.
I first had this dish when Ryan and I were in Italy. It was served just like this, over some perfectly flaky, fried fish. We went to Italy in 2009 and I still think about this dish. That is how delicious it is. I love the rustic simplicity of it and I think you will too.
Let’s talk about what you need to make it:
Now that you have the list of ingredients, let’s me walk you through just how easy it is to make this Crispy Fish with Sage Butter.
STEP #1: Season the fish with salt and pepper. Then dredge it in flour, dip it in egg and finally press it into panko bread crumbs.
STEP #2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Depending on the size of your skillet you may need to do this in batches. If you do, simply keep the cooked fish in a warm oven.
STEP #3: While the fish is cooking, make the sage butter. Melt butter over low heat. Make sure to keep it low you don’t want to burn it. Once it has melted add sage. Cook over low heat until sage leaves start to brown.
STEP #4: Drizzle sage butter over the top of cooked fish and serve.
I am not sure what my favorite part about this is. The crispy flaky fish, the decadent sage butter sauce or the crispy sage leaves. It is just all so good. And it is these kind of simple, rustic meals that started my love affair with the kitchen and I hope it adds to yours too!
This is really best eaten the day that it is made as the fish won’t reheat very well without becoming over done. You can save the butter however, simply store it in the refrigerator and reheat over low heat.
I served this with Garlic Rice and some Blistered Asparagus and my family loved it! It was a great light weeknight meal.
If you want to make it a little heartier, try placing the fish on a bed of creamy homemade mashed potatoes and then drizzle the butter over the top of it all.
Note: This recipe was originally published in 2010. It was updated with new photos, nutritional information, and a recipe that makes a larger amount in 2022.
heardle game
July 17, 2022 at 6:56 pmFantastic dish. We had some frozen cod because we adore it. The sage was growing so wonderfully when I watered our garden yesterday. I wondered if anyone has a fish recipe using sage. I found this excellent, simple recipe via searching.
Norm Stangl
February 19, 2021 at 7:02 pmWe made this tonight with Cod. No disappointment at all.
Thankfully we had fresh sage in the fridge and panko in the cupboard. We always keep a store of flash frozen fish varieties on hand.
The only change up that I made to the recipe was to substitute the flour with corn starch.
The crispy sage leaves were a nice treat with the complimenting sage butter pairing wonderfully with the crunchy cod nuggets.
We live on the shores of Lake Erie so I can’t wait to pick up some fresh perch filets to make this again the Trattoria way. It’s so simple and quick to make too, with a giant payoff.
This recipe definitely goes into the favourites file.
Deseree
February 19, 2021 at 11:40 pmThank you, Norm! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
Alison Young
July 10, 2020 at 5:59 amI am trying this one tonight. It sounds divine. Just wondering what to serve it with. Any ideas?
Deseree
July 10, 2020 at 9:16 amOh! I hope you enjoy it! I think it would be great with garlic mashed potatoes and a salad. Or if you’re looking for something a little lighter try my garlic rice :) https://www.lifesambrosia.com/garlic-rice-recipe/
Tom Fenimore
April 12, 2020 at 10:33 amAwesome dish! Made it last night for my wife and I. We love cod and had some in the freezer. I was watering our garden yesterday and saw the sage growing so nicely. Thought I wonder if someone has a sage recipe for fish. Did a search and found this wonderful, easy recipe!
Thanks so much. This one is a keeper.
Deseree
April 12, 2020 at 9:12 pmYou are so welcome Tom! So happy you and your wife enjoyed it!
Nick
April 22, 2013 at 2:53 pmI had Cod in the fridge, amazingly I also had fresh sage. Thought would give it a go, winner! Will be revisiting
Deseree
October 2, 2010 at 6:47 amYou’re welcome Cindy! I’m happy to hear your family enjoyed it :)
Cindy
September 30, 2010 at 10:49 amI made this for dinner on Tuesday of this week. My family enjoyed it. Very YUMMY!! Thanks for the post.
Jenn's Food Journey
September 25, 2010 at 6:47 amHow could this not be good? Crispy, buttery…..sounds perfect!
Susan Marie
September 24, 2010 at 4:02 pmItaly is all about the love of food, after all! One of the greatest memories of our trip 2 years ago was the farmhouse we rented in Tuscany, away from the major tourist attractions. Every day we would go into the village to shop, and I would cook our main meal. The villa had herbs and some vegetables growing in the garden, so I took advantage of it all! Anyway, I have since planted sage at home, and it has taken off like a weed – I wasn’t expecting that to happen here in Texas! I haven’t had it with fried fish, but I will be trying this recipe soon. Thanks!
Michelle
September 24, 2010 at 11:12 amThis looks delicious! My fiance and I are planning on eating our way through Italy for our honeymoon so I may look to you for some advice!
StephenC
September 24, 2010 at 9:42 amI love crispy fish. I love sage. Thank you for bringing Italy to us via your recipe.
Kath
September 24, 2010 at 8:57 amThis looks fabulous! Fresh cod is featured at my favorite supermarket this week; I’m bookmarking this! Thanks for sharing it.