The Best Beer Battered Fish Food

BEER BATTER FISH MADE GREAT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Rinse fish, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, 2 teaspoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper. Stir egg into dry ingredients. Gradually mix in beer until a thin batter is formed. You should be able to see the fish through the batter after it has been dipped.
• Dip fish fillets into the batter, then drop one at a time into hot oil. Fry fish, turning once, until both sides are golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and serve warm.

BEER-BATTERED FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Set a colander in a large bowl of ice water. Slice the potatoes lengthwise 1/4 inch thick, then stack the slices and cut into 1/4-inch-thick sticks, adding them to the ice water as you work. Refrigerate 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. Lift the colander out of the ice water, rinse the potatoes well and pat very dry.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 4 inches vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven until a deep-fry thermometer registers 280 degrees F. Add half of the potatoes; fry until tender but still colorless, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with the remaining potatoes. Increase the oil temperature to 365 degrees F.
• Whisk 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, the rice flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and the cayenne in a large bowl. Whisk in the beer until mostly smooth. Let sit 5 minutes to thicken.
• Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Season the fish with salt. Working in two batches, dredge the fish in the remaining 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, then dip in the beer batter, letting the excess drip off. Fry until crisp and golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to the rack; sprinkle with salt. Keep warm in the oven.
• Increase the oil temperature to 380 degrees F. Working in two batches, fry the potatoes again until crisp and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt. Serve the fish and chips with malt vinegar and lemon wedges.

BEER BATTERED FISH

Steps:

• For the fish: Combine 1/2 cup of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow dish. Combine the flour, baking powder, paprika, remaining 1 cup of cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper in a large bowl. Gently stir in the cold beer until just combined. Cover and refrigerate the batter until ready to use.
• For the tartar sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 inches of oil to 375°. Place a wire rack over a baking sheet.
• Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Cut the fish into 10 to 12 3-inch pieces. Dredge the fish in the cornstarch mixture, shaking off excess. Working in 3 to 4 batches, coat the fish in the chilled batter. Carefully transfer the battered fish in hot oil and cook until golden and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the fish to a wire rack and sprinkle with salt.
• Serve the fish with the tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and malt vinegar.

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.