Poor Man's Lawyer

Burbot, Eelpout, Lawyer.  Member of the Cod family.

Eelpout.  Burbot.  Lawyer.  Plus a few other names that aren't very complimentary and which decorum prohibits listing here.  Considered by most to be 'garbage fish' to be thrown on the ice or the banks and left behind, these ugly but delicious fish make about the best Poor Man's Lobster that there is!


Found in the Bay of Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Winnebago and other inland lakes in Wisconsin and Minnesota, a few fishermen and lovers of fresh fish have figured out how good this much maligned fish is!  The AC Tap in Door County often features Lawyer in their Friday Night Fish Fry.   It is delicious deep fried, beer battered, baked or boiled, with a firm flesh and a slight sweetness that's out of this world.

This recipe would also work well with Whitefish, Black Bass or Tilapia, so feel free to try those as well.  But if you can find the lowly Burbot/Lawyer/Eelpout in your area, give it a try, you won't be sorry.  Halvorson Fisheries in Cornucopia, WI often has frozen Burbot (as they refer to it).  Please sound off if you know of other places that offer this fine fish commercially.

To make Poor Man's Lobster that's out of this world, you'll need:

4-5 potatoes, chunked (or baby reds, if in season)

3 T salt
2-3 bay leaves
1/2 lb. butter
1 T minced garlic
1 tsp Paprika
3 lbs. Lawyer aka Eelpout aka Burbot (or other fish) cut into 2 in. pieces
3 quarts water
1 med. onion
3 stalks celery (chopped)
1/2 c. lemon juice

In a large kettle, bring water and salt to a boil.  Add the potatoes and when nearly done, add the onion, celery & lemon juice.  Boil for an additional 4 minutes.  Add bay leaves and fish.  Boil for an additional 3 minutes.  Remove fish and place in a Pyrex 9x13 pan.  Melt the butter and the garlic in a small saucepan at low heat.  Brush with melted garlic butter and sprinkle with paprika.  Broil in the oven for 2 minutes.  Reserve the onion and celery to serve on the side, along with the potatoes.  Serve with melted garlic butter on the side.