British Beer Battered Fish N Chips Recipes

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.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• For the twice-cooked chips: Peel the potatoes and cut them into approximately 5/8-inch-thick chips (i.e. 5/8-by-5/8-inch-by-potato length). Store them in water.
• Fill a large pot halfway with the oil or fill a deep-fat fryer with oil. Heat to 275 degrees F. Thoroughly drain the chips and add them to the oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the chips until they are soft enough to squeeze but not yet browned, about 10 minutes. Once all the chips have been blanched, spread them on a sheet tray and store them in the fridge overnight.
• When ready to serve, heat the oil to 375 degrees F and fry the blanched chips, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and still fluffy on the inside, about 5 minutes.
• For the seasoned flour: Mix the flour, salt and black pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
• For the beer batter: Thoroughly mix the flour, paprika and salt in a large bowl. Whilst constantly whisking, add enough beer to stiffen up the mix. Whilst still continuing to whisk, add cold water until the batter resembles heavy cream consistency and contains no lumps.
• For the fish: Fill a large pot halfway with oil or fill a deep-fat fryer with oil. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Fillet the fish into six 8-ounce portions, removing any bones, skin or blood lines that are present. Dip the fish into the seasoned flour, tapping off any excess. Dip the fish into the beer batter, briefly allow the batter to drain off, and then gently place the fish into the oil, allowing the fish to float away from you. Cook, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and trying to float, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the oil with a spatula and allow to drain on a cooling rack before serving on a bed of chips with lashings of kosher salt and malt vinegar.

BRITISH BEER BATTERED FISH 'N' CHIPS

Steps:

• Peel and cut potatoes into chips, run under cold water patting dry with a paper towel. Deep fry chips until golden brown, place in an oven proof dish in a warm oven.
• In a bowl, sift the flour and salt. Next, crack the egg into the bowl and whisk the mixture. Slowly add the beer, whisking all the time. Keep adding the beer until the batter is a thick consistency. Set aside.
• If you are using the oil you just cooked the chips in, allow it to reheat. When the oil is hot, place the frying basket in the pan. Chop the parsley finely then place flour and chopped parsley in a container.
• Wash the fish under cold water and roll in the flour/parsley mixture. Dip the fish pieces, one at a time into the batter and drop into the oil.
• (Do not put the fish in the basket and lower the basket in, because they will stick).
• Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove with the basket, place on a paper towel to drain and serve immediately with the reserved parsley.
• Serve with the chips, salt and vinegar, tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

REAL ENGLISH FISH AND CHIPS WITH YORKSHIRE BEER BATTER

Steps:

• Heat fat up in a chip pan or automatic deep fat fryer - mine has a chip setting which is 190°C.
• Peel the potatoes and cut into chunky sized chips. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Fry chips for about 3 minutes until soft but NOT coloured. Drain and shake well and set to one side.
• Put some flour onto a plate. Dredge the fish fillets in the flour thoroughly - this is VERY important, it stops the batter sliding off when fried! Leave the fish fillets in the flour whilst you make the batter.
• Some people say you should make the batter at least one hour before - I have found little difference - so make it before if it is convenient or now!
• Put flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and pepper into a large roomy bowl. Add the beer gradually, stop when you have a thick coating type of batter. Drink any beer that is left! Whisk thoroughly until it is smooth and there are no lumps.Add the lemon juice OR a splash of malt vinegar if desired. Mix thoroughly again.
• Have your plates, newspaper or whatever ready for eating!
• Adjust deep fat fryer to fish frying temperature of 160°C.
• Take one fillet of fish at a time and holding it by the tail or thin end (!) swirl it around the batter until well coated - plunge into hot fat immediately. As soon as it has crisped up and set, add your other fillets one at a time, taking out the first ones as they cook - about 6 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness. Place onto a tray and keep warm in the oven.
• Turn up the heat setting to 190°C again and cook your chips until golden and crisp.
• Serve on plates or newspaper with salt & vinegar!
• All you need now is a pint of warm beer and Coronation Street on the TV to set the scene!
• This batter is great for small fish goujons, chicken goujons and also tempura vegetables too.