Big Johns Beer Battered Fish Food

CRISPY BEER BATTERED FISH

Steps:

• Dry & cut fish: Pat fish dry using paper towels or a tea towel. Cut into 7 x 3cm / 3 x 1¼" batons, or larger fillets if you prefer. If you have very thick fillets, cut in half horizontally (Note 1)
• Dusting bowl: Place ¼ cup rice flour in a shallow bowl.
• Heat oil: Heat 6cm / 2" - 3" oil in a large heavy based pot over medium high heat to 190°C/375°F.
• Salt & dust: While oil is heating, sprinkle 3 or 4 pieces of fish with a pinch of salt, then coat in rice flour and shake off excess. You can leave them like this for up to 10 minutes.
• Cold batter: Just before cooking, whisk together the flour, rice flour, baking powder and salt. Add very cold beer into the batter and whisk just until incorporated evenly into the flour. Do not over-mix, do not worry about flour lumps (Note 4). It should be a fairly thin batter but fully coat the back of a spoon. If too thick, add beer 1 tsp at a time.
• Dredge fish: Dunk a piece of fish in the batter, the let the excess drip off very briefly.
• Fry 3 minutes: Carefully lower into oil, dropping it in away from you, one piece at a time. Don't crowd the pot; fry in batches. Fry for 3 minutes, flipping after about 2 minutes, until deep golden.
• Drain: Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining fish. Serve hot! However it will stay crisp for 15 - 20 minutes. (Note 5 for larger batch cooking).
• Serve with Tartare Sauce, lemon wedges and a leafy green salad on the side dressed with a classic vinaigrette. Easy single-fry-ultra-crunchy chips coming soon! In the meantime, use oven baked wedges!

BEER-BATTERED FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• For the chips: Fill a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven with oil to a depth of about 5 inches. Heat to 365 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut each half into thirds lengthwise, making wide strips. Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan with enough cold water to cover by about 1 inch. Salt the water generously and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a sheet pan lined with paper towels to dry for about 10 minutes. Once the potatoes are very dry, working in 2 batches, gently transfer them to the oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 6 minutes.
• Transfer the chips to a rack set over a baking sheet and sprinkle immediately with 1 to 2 teaspoons salt. Keep warm in the oven while you fry the fish. (You can also reheat them with a quick second fry while fish is cooling slightly.)
• For the fish: Place the fillets on a small baking sheet or large plate, blot dry with paper towels and sprinkle on all sides with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Move the fish to one side and place 1/2 cup of flour on the other side (this flour is for dusting the fish just before dipping it in batter). Season the flour with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• To make the batter, place the remaining 1 cup flour, garlic powder, paprika, baking powder, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl. Stir together with a fork until combined. When ready to fry, pour in the beer and whisk until smooth. The batter should be the consistency of fairly thin pancake batter.
• Dredge the fish on all sides in the flour on the baking sheet. Shake off any excess. Working in 2 batches, coat one fillet at time in the batter, letting excess drip back into the bowl. Gently lower the fillet into the hot oil. Repeat with the remaining fillets. Fry until GBD (golden brown and delicious), 4 to 6 minutes, turning over midway through cooking.
• Drain the fillets on a rack set over a sheet pan. Serve immediately with the chips. Classic condiments to serve alongside include malt vinegar, tartar sauce or HP Sauce.

BIG JOHN'S BEER BATTERED FISH

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pan (cast iron) to approximately 400 degrees F.
• Sift together mustard and flour.
• Cut the fish into approximately 2" wide strips.
• With a hand-mixer blend the flour mixture, water, beer, egg, sugar, and salt.
• Dip fillets into the batter mix, coating generously and quickly place into the hot oil.
• Fry until dark golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
• Remove and drain on paper towel.
• Serve right away.

CRISPY BEER BATTER FISH & CHIPS

Steps:

• Whisk self-rising flour, rice flour, and baking powder together in a bowl. Freeze until ready to use.
• Pat fish as dry as possible. Cut pieces lengthwise to get eight 1-inch thick strips. Place rice flour on a plate and season with salt. Dust fish lightly with the mixture and shake off excess. Cover a plate with crinkled foil to make a quick drying rack; place fish on top.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Pour beer into the flour mixture and whisk, adding more as needed, until batter is the consistency of thick pancake batter. Dip fish pieces into the batter to coat; lift out and let excess drip off.
• Fry fish in batches until golden brown, dunking occasionally if needed, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.