Ultimate Fish Batter 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!

THE ULTIMATE FISH TACOS

Steps:

• Prepare the fish. Cut the pieces of fish into 1-ounce strips. Set up a breading station of flour, lightly beaten eggs with water, and seasoned panko bread crumbs. Season all with salt and pepper. Dredge the pieces of fish in flour, egg then bread crumbs. Once all the fish is breaded deep-fry in small batches in (375 degrees F) oil. Drain on paper towels and season with salt. Keep warm until ready to serve.
• Prepare the pink chile mayonnaise. Put the chipotles in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, adobo sauce and lemon juice and continue to process until the mixture is consistent and creamy. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Prepare the mango-radish salsa. Remove the peel and pith from the limes and cut between the membranes to remove the segments. Put these "supremes" into a bowl and squeeze over the juice from the membranes. Add the remaining ingredients and mix. Season and refrigerate until ready to use. You can also place all of the ingredients into a food processor and puree for a smoother salsa.
• To serve, set up the tacos "family-style". Assemble the fish in a pile on a plate; the pink chile mayonnaise in a bowl; and mango-radish salsa in another. Set a pile of shredded savoy cabbage, cilantro leaves, chopped chives and lime wedges next to the fish. Toast the corn tortillas lightly over an open flame (on your stove top) and serve.

FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat 3 inches of the oil in a deep fryer to 325 degrees F. Alternatively, use a deep heavy skillet.
• Peel the potatoes and cut them into chips (that is, fries) about the size of your index finger. Put the potatoes in a fryer basket and lower into the oil. Fry the chips for 2 to 3 minutes; they should not be crisp or fully cooked at this point. Remove the chips to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.
• Crank the oil temperature up to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Combine soda water and egg and pour into the flour mixture. Whisk to a smooth batter. Spread the rice flour on a plate. Dredge the fish pieces in the rice flour and then dip them into the batter, letting the excess drip off.
• Put the chips in the bottom of the fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Carefully lower the battered fish into the bubbling oil on top of the chips. Fry the fish and chips for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown. Remove the basket and drain the fish and chips on paper towels; season lightly with salt. Serve wrapped in a newspaper cone with malt vinegar and/or tartar sauce.

ULTIMATE FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Mix together 125ml mayonnaise, 1 rounded tbsp roughly chopped capers, 1 rounded tsp creamed horseradish, 1 rounded tsp Dijon mustard, 1 small very finley chopped shallot and 1 tsp finely chopped flatleaf parsley. Set aside.
• Lay 450g skinned Icelandic cod or haddock fillet and 2 bay leaves in a frying pan. Pour over 150ml milk and 150ml water.
• Cover, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 4 mins. Take off the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 mins to gently finish cooking the fish.
• Meanwhile, peel and chop 350g Maris Piper potatoes into even-sized chunks. Put them in a saucepan and just cover with boiling water. Add a pinch of salt, bring back to the boil and simmer for 10 mins or until tender, but not broken up.
• Lift the fish out of the milk with a slotted spoon and put on a plate to cool. Drain the potatoes in a colander and leave for a min or two.
• Tip the potatoes back into the hot pan on the lowest heat you can and let them dry out for 1 min, mashing them with a fork and stirring so they don't stick. You should have a light, dry fluffy mash.
• Take off the heat and beat in 1 rounded tbsp of the sauce, then ½ tsp lemon zest, 1 tbsp chopped flatleaf parsley and 1 tbsp snipped chives.
• Season well with salt and pepper. The potato should have a good flavour, so taste and adjust to suit.
• Drain off liquid from the fish, grind some pepper over it, then flake it into big chunks into the pan of potatoes.
• Using your hands, gently lift the fish and potatoes together so they just mix. You'll only need a couple of turns, or the fish will break up too much. Put to one side and cool.
• Beat 1 egg on a large plate and lightly flour a board. Spread 85g fresh white breadcrumbs on a baking sheet. Divide the fish cake mixture into four.
• On the floured board, and with floured hands, carefully shape into four cakes, about 2.5cm thick. One by one, sit each cake in the egg, and brush over the top and sides so it is completely coated.
• Sit the cakes on the crumbs, patting the crumbs on the sides and tops so they are lightly covered. Transfer to a plate, cover and chill for 30 mins (or up to a day ahead).
• Heat 3-4 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil in a large frying pan. To test when ready, drop a piece of the dry breadcrumbs in - if it sizzles and quickly turns golden brown, it is ready to use.
• Fry the fish cakes over a medium heat for about 5 mins on each side or until crisp and golden. Serve with the rest of the sauce (squeeze in a little lemon to taste), lemon wedges for squeezing over and watercress.

HOW TO MAKE BATTER JUST LIKE LONG JOHN SILVER'S

Steps:

• 1. In a mixing bowl, sift dry ingredients. Add the water and mix together very well. Completely cover and coat 8 fish or chicken fillets with the batter. Deep fry until golden brown

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.

ULTIMATE FISH BATTER

Steps:

• Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
• In a jug, make an even mix of the White Wine Vinegar and Soda Water/Beer.
• Add to the dry mix until the batter becomes the consistency of thick paint.
• Leave batter in the fridge to settle for about 45 minutes.
• Before battering your fish remember to coat fish in flour.
• TIP: I like to add coarsely ground black pepper to the batter. Probably about one teaspoon full. This acts as a kind of garnish/decoration when the fish is cooked.

UNBELIEVABLE FISH BATTER

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, milk, water, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until smooth.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: FISH & CHIPS

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes, cut into 1.5cm thick lengthways slices, then cut each slice into 1.5cm thick chips. Tip the chips into a large saucepan, pour in enough water to just cover, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and gently simmer for 4 mins only. Drain, tip onto a clean tea towel, pat dry, then leave to cool. Can be done 1-2 hrs ahead. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Put a large shallow non-stick roasting tray in the oven with 1 tbsp olive oil and heat for 10 mins.
• Transfer the chips to a bowl and toss in the remaining oil using your hands. Tip out in a single layer onto the hot roasting tin. Bake for 10 mins, then turn them over. Bake 5 more mins, then turn again. Bake for a final 5-8 mins until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
• While the chips are in the oven, cook the peas in boiling water for 4 mins. Drain, then tip into the pan and lightly crush with the back of a fork. Mix in the oil, lemon juice and freshly grated pepper. Cover and set aside.
• The fish can also be cooked while the chips are in the oven. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels. Put the 1 tbsp of flour on a plate and use to coat each fillet, patting off the excess. Pour the oil for frying into a heavy, medium non-stick wok or wokshaped pan. Heat to 200C (use a thermometer so you can check the oil stays at that temperature). Mix 50g flour, cornflour, a pinch of salt and some pepper. Lightly whisk the egg white with a balloon whisk until frothy and bubbly, but not too stiff. Pour the water into the flour mix, gently and briefly whisking as you go. The batter shouldn't be completely smooth. Add the egg white, then lightly whisk in just to mix. Try and keep as many bubbles as you can so the batter stays light. Cooking two pieces of fish at a time, dip them in the batter to coat, let some of it drip off, then lower into the hot oil using a slotted spoon. Fry for 5-6 mins, making sure the oil stays at 200C and turning the fish over halfway through so it is golden all over. Lift out with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen paper. Check the oil is back up to 200C, then repeat with remaining fish. Reheat the peas and serve with the fish, chips and lemon wedges.

TYLER FLORENCE'S ULTIMATE FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat 3 inches of the oil in a deep fryer. Or you can heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot. Peel the potatoes and cut them into chips, about the size of your index finger.
• Put the potatoes in the oil. Fry the chips for 2 to 3 minutes; they should not be crisp or fully cooked at this point. Remove the chips with a spider strainer or slotted spoon, to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.
• Put the chips back in the fryer for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown. Take out and drain.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and egg. Pour in the soda water and whisk to a smooth batter.
• Spread the rice flour on a plate. Dredge the fish pieces in the rice flour and then dip them into the batter, letting the excess drip off.
• Now submerge the battered fish into the bubbling oil for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown.
• Remove and drain the fish with the chips on paper towels; season lightly with salt. Serve wrapped in a newspaper cone with malt vinegar and/or tartar sauce.
• Tartar Sauce (about 1-1/4 cups): In a small mixing bowl, combine all tartar sauce ingredients. Chill before serving to let the flavors combine.