One Chef Wishes McDonald's Would Give The Filet-O-Fish This Bigger, Flavorful Makeover

For many, McDonald's Filet-O-Fish is perfection on a soft, fluffy bun, but that doesn't mean there's no more room for improvement on the fish filet patty made with wild-caught Alaskan Pollock, slice of American cheese, and tartar sauce. When we spoke to a few professional chefs about their thoughts on the Filet-O-Fish, one chef shared his thoughts on how this cult favorite can be elevated. Mark McShane, chef and food safety expert at Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate, notes that this seafood sandwich uses a mild-tasting white fish, providing a blank canvas for a range of flavors, including the tartar sauce, "the true highlight of the sandwich," according to McShane.

But in a perfect world, McShane wishes for a Filet-O-Fish with a bit more heartiness, bold flavors, and fresh ingredients. "I would like to see a slightly thicker filet, a more aggressive seasoning on the breading, a tartar sauce with more fresh dill, capers, or lemon zest, and possibly a little more acidity to add brightness to each bite," recommends McShane. Adding a bigger filet would make the fish a more substantial part of each bite. We can also see the addition of bolder spices like onion and garlic powder, and even paprika and cayenne for heat seekers. And McShane's tartar sauce ingredient suggestions would provide fresh, herbal flavor from the dill, a briny punch from the capers, and acidity from the lemon. Fortunately, you don't have to wait for a menu revamp to try it yourself. Brining these chef-approved upgrades into your own kitchen is surprisingly easy.

While you can certainly make your own Filet-O-Fish at home, it may be easier to elevate the original version with ingredients from your pantry. You won't be able to get a thicker fish patty, but you may be able to order a second patty in-store since the app won't have this customization option. In some locations, though, we've seen a Double Filet-O-Fish option. Now, upgrading the seasoning is a bit trickier since you can't change the breading itself. You can go the easy route and simply shake the spices directly onto the patty, but there's another method, too. Mix a bit of melted butter with your desired spices and brush or spoon the spiced butter right onto both sides of the fish.

And as far as the tartar sauce goes, you can ask for the sauce to come on the side instead of on the patty itself. There's no option in the app, so you'll have to order this one in-store or at the drive-thru. Once home, you can stir in some freshly chopped dill (dried dill works, too), some roughly chopped capers, a few drops of fresh lemon juice, and a bit of lemon zest for that hint of brightness. Then, stir the mixture and spread it right onto the warm bun. There are also many ways to recreate this chef-approved upgrade with a homemade version, and you don't even have to make it entirely from scratch. We are big fans of using store-bought frozen fish filets to recreate Filet-O-Fish at home. And you can also turn up the heat using pepperoncini peppers and their juice to make a tangier and spicier Filet-O-Fish. No matter which route you choose, it's incredibly easy to take this fast-food staple to the next level.