Crispy 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

Steps:

• Cut each piece of fish in half lengthwise, creating long finger like pieces. Season with salt and dredge in cornstarch. Keep chilled in the fridge while you heat the oil and prepare the batter.
• Add the oil to a large Dutch oven and place over medium-high heat. Using a thermometer, bring the temperature of the oil up to 375°F (190°C).
• Mix all the ingredients for the batter together until you have a thick, pancake like batter.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Remove the fish from the fridge and dredge a couple fingers in the batter and carefully lower them into the hot oil. Cook for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally until the batter is golden brown. Remove the cooked fish to a paper towel lined baking sheet and season lightly with salt.
• Serve immediately with your favourite tartar sauce and coleslaw.

CRISPY BEER BATTER

Steps:

• 1 cup s/r flour mix with 1/2tsp salt
• Add 125 ml beer and 125ml mineral water. Can add only beer - 250 ml.
• Whisk until there are no lumps
• If too runny, add more flour. If too thick, add more liquid.
• Heat the oil in the wok or deep pan until 200C. Throw a bread crust to check, the oil is hot enough when the bread turns golden in 10 sec.
• Once the oil is hot, deep your fish/veggies into the batter, remove access of the batter on the edge of the bowl and gently immerse in the oil (away from yourself). Repeat with up to 4 pieces at a time. Make sure to let the oil get hot again between the batches.

GOLDEN BEER-BATTERED FISH WITH CHIPS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, cornflour, baking powder and turmeric in a large bowl, season, then spoon 1 tbsp onto a plate and set aside. Gradually pour the beer and water into the bowl, stirring with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth, lump-free batter. Leave to rest for 30 mins while you prepare the chips.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Boil a large pan of water, then add the chipped potatoes and boil for 2-3 mins until the outsides are just tender but not soft. drain well, then tip onto a large baking tray with the flour, oil and some salt. Gently toss together until all the potatoes are evenly coated and the flour is no longer dusty. Roast for 30 mins, turning occasionally, until the chips are golden and crisp.
• To cook the fish, heat the 1 litre oil in a deep saucepan until a drop of batter sizzles and crisps up straight away. Pat the fish dry with kitchen paper, then toss it in the reserved turmeric flour mix. Shake off any excess, then dip into the batter. Carefully lower each fillet into the hot oil and fry for 6-8 mins - depending on the thickness of the fish - until golden and crisp. Using a large slotted spoon, lift out the fish, drain on kitchen paper, then sprinkle with salt. Serve with the hot chips and Homemade tomato sauce (see 'goes well with').
• Combine the flour, cornflour, baking powder and turmeric in a large bowl, season, then spoon 1 tbsp onto a plate and set aside. Gradually pour the beer and water into the bowl, stirring with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth, lump-free batter. Leave to rest for 30 mins while you prepare the chips.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Boil a large pan of water, then add the chipped potatoes and boil for 2-3 mins until the outsides are just tender but not soft. drain well, then tip onto a large baking tray with the flour, oil and some salt. Gently toss together until all the potatoes are evenly coated and the flour is no longer dusty. Roast for 30 mins, turning occasionally, until the chips are golden and crisp.
• To cook the fish, heat the 1 litre oil in a deep saucepan until a drop of batter sizzles and crisps up straight away. Pat the fish dry with kitchen paper, then toss it in the reserved turmeric flour mix. Shake off any excess, then dip into the batter. Carefully lower each fillet into the hot oil and fry for 6-8 mins - depending on the thickness of the fish - until golden and crisp. Using a large slotted spoon, lift out the fish, drain on kitchen paper, then sprinkle with salt. Serve with the hot chips and Homemade tomato sauce (see 'goes well with').

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.

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.

CRISPY BEER BATTERED TILAPIA

Steps:

• Mix all the dry ingredients together.
• Whisk the egg and add to dry ingredients.
• Add beer gradually while mixing till the batter gets liquid enough.
• Dip the tilapia fillets in the batter and let it rest for a minute.
• In a pan add the oil and put on medium heat.
• Add the tilapia to the pan and fry till each side is golden brown.
• After they're done remove and put on paper towel and let it cool for few minutes before serving.
• You can serve this with boiled rice and/or my Minty Cucumber Salad.

CRUNCHY BATTER FRIED FISH (NO BEER)

Steps:

• Mix together 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
• Stir in enough club soda to make a batter about the consistency of thin pancake batter. You don't want it too thick, just thick enough to nicely coat a spoon.
• Season the batter to taste if desired with seasoning of your choice. I suggest Old Bay, Lemon Pepper seasoning, or seasoned salt. set aside.
• In another bowl, mix together remaining 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup cornstarch.
• Heat oil in a deep pan to 375°F Use a candy thermometer if you need to. Oil in pan should be about 3" to 4" deep.
• Cut fish into portion sizes and remove any pin bones, and pat dry.
• Dredge the fish in the dry flour/cornstarch mixture. Shake off any excess.This allows the batter to stick to the fish.
• Dip dredged fish into batter allowing any excess to drip off before carefully adding the fish to the hot oil.
• Cook the fish one or two pieces at a time until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels or better yet, on a cake cooling rack set up over paper towels.
• Serve while hot.