I don’t fry food too much these days as a rule… every couple of months I will make fried chicken to honor our family’s Southern roots, BUT THEN I SAW IT… a recipe on Pinterest for Beer Battered Fish and Chips.
Against all my common sense, I think I heard the recipe calling to me, bringing back memories of a summer I spent in England years ago, and the smell of fish and chips available everywhere, served wrapped up in paper, and piping hot! I loved buying fish and chips from local vendors in several towns. Such a great memory.
Occasionally my husband or I will order this meal in a restaurant; the thought of making my own seemed daunting, but I am always trying to learn… so…I decided to try and make my own replica of British fish and chips. GULP. I crossed my fingers, toes, eyes, and anything else that I could cross, and plunged in! I used thick pieces of frozen cod for this recipe and found it, as well as the batter, to be wonderful! And how can ya go wrong with some good “chips”… FRIES???
I enjoyed every single bite of my crispy coated pieces of fish (with some good Malt Vinegar on them), and loved the delicious “chips” dipped in ketchup (gotta have ketchup on my fries). The chips (fries) are cooked twice to get them nice and crispy, and let me tell you… they were tasty! So there you have it… I was glad I made this recipe. Yum! The only thing missing was having this meal served, wrapped up in a big old piece of greasy paper… but I can live without that!
I love experimenting with food in our kitchen. I enjoy getting out of my comfort zone, learning about and trying new recipes for the first time! Maybe if you’re feeling adventurous too, you will give this recipe a try. I highly recommend it!
Recipe Source: http://www.lovefoodies.com/british-beer-battered-fish–chips.html
Potatoes are peeled, then cut into sticks for the “chips” (fries), then patted dry.
Into the HOT oil they go to cook for about 8 minutes…
After cooking for about 8 minutes, the chips are removed to drain while the fish is cooked.
Fish pieces are coated in flour/salt/pepper mixture and set aside.
Beer batter is made, and flour coated fish pieces are dipped in and coated before cooking.
Battered fish pieces are then cooked in HOT oil (350 degrees) for 7-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Cooked pieces of fish are draining while chips (fries) go back into hot oil for 2nd time, for 3-4 minutes…
The fries go back into the hot oil (after removing fish), and cooked again… this time for 3-4 minutes until crispy.
Ready to eat… Fish and Chips! Grab some Malt Vinegar or some tartar sauce, and enjoy!
- 4 pieces cod (thick pieces-about 1½ inches thick- I used frozen cod pieces)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- Salt and pepper, to season fish
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 7 Tablespoons milk
- ½ Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 6-7 Tablespoons beer (light beer is best). Club soda may be substituted.
- 2 small to medium potatoes per person (peeled, cut into "finger thickness"
- Malt Vinegar and/or Tartar Sauce
- Pat fish filets dry with a paper towel. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and pepper. Gently dredge the fish in the flour, turning to coat completely. Shake off excess flour; set flour covered filets aside.
- Make the batter for the fish: Add all batter ingredients to a medium bowl, except for the beer (or club soda). Whisk to combine. There will be some lumps. That's okay. Set batter aside.
- Make the chips: Peel, then cut potatoes into finger thickness. Slice potatoes lengthwise, then into strips. Dry the potatoes as much as you can by patting them dry with paper towels.
- Heat oil in large skillet or stock pot until it reaches 350 degrees. (No thermometer? Try dropping a tiny bit of batter into oil... it should really sizzle, and come to the surface!). Carefully put cut potatoes into hot oil. Let them cook for about 8 minutes. Remove potatoes from hot oil (I used a spatula to help remove them). Place hot potatoes onto a baking pan or a wire rack with paper towels underneath, to drain, while you cook the fish. (You will cook the potatoes a 2nd time AFTER the fish has cooked).
- Add the beer or club soda to the batter, and gently mix to combine. The batter should have the consistency of slightly thinned yogurt. If it is too thick, add just a touch more beer, and stir.
- Heat the oil back up to 350 degrees. While it is heating back up, place parchment paper on baking sheet (to hold the fish after you remove it from the hot oil). If you are cooking for more than two people, see notes section for tip). Place flour covered fish pieces, one at a time, into the batter and fully cover with batter. Let excess batter run off fish back into bowl. Gently put battered fish into 350 degree (HOT) oil. Cook a few pieces at a time. Cook fish for 7-8 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Remove cooked fish to parchment paper lined baking sheet to keep warm while you cook additional fish, then re-cook the "chips".
- When done cooking the fish, heat the oil back to 350 degrees. Carefully add the chips. Cook for 3-4 additional minutes, until crispy and hot! Remove chips, drain.
- Serve hot pieces of fish, a serving of "chips" on the side, along with some Malt Vinegar and/or tartar sauce. Enjoy!
Calculate about 5 ounces fish per person.
