Tobys Fish And Chips Recipes

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.

CLASSIC FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a medium-size bowl of cold water. In a separate medium-size mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in the milk and egg; stir until the mixture is smooth. Let mixture stand for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oil in a large pot or electric skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry the potatoes in the hot oil until they are tender. Drain them on paper towels.
• Dredge the fish in the batter, one piece at a time, and place them in the hot oil. Fry until the fish is golden brown. If necessary, increase the heat to maintain the 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) temperature. Drain well on paper towels.
• Fry the potatoes again for 1 to 2 minutes for added crispness.

FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• For the saffron tartar sauce: Bring the vinegar to a simmer in a small saucepan, add the saffron, remove from the heat and let steep for 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 10 minutes.
• Put the mayonnaise in a medium bowl and whisk in the onion, mustard, capers, cornichons, lemon zest, lemon juice and the cooled saffron vinegar mixture. Stir until combined and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Stir in the parsley just before serving.
• For the sherry vinegar tartar sauce and chips: Whisk together the vinegar and mustard in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified and stir in the tarragon. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes and up to 60 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
• Set a baking rack over a baking sheet and set aside. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer or medium Dutch oven over medium heat until it registers 325 degrees F.
• Fry the potatoes, in batches, until pale golden blonde and slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining potatoes. Increase the heat of the oil to 365 degrees F.
• Fry the potatoes again, in batches, until golden brown and crispy, about 2 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and season immediately with more salt and the smoked paprika. Reserve the oil for frying the fish.
• For the fried parsley leaves: If desired for serving, fry the parsley leaves in the oil until crisp, about 30 seconds. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel, season with salt and set aside for serving.
• For the fried fish: Add more oil to the the deep fryer or Dutch oven if necessary and heat to 365 degrees F. Set a baking rack over a baking sheet and set aside.
• Whisk together the beer, rice flour, breadcrumbs and salt and pepper until smooth, adding more beer if needed. The batter should be just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Whisk together the flour, cayenne and some salt and pepper on a plate. Season the halibut on both sides with salt and pepper, dredge in the seasoned flour and tap off the excess.
• Dip the fish in the batter and let the excess run off. Fry the fish in batches, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and season with salt. Serve with the saffron tartar sauce, sherry vinegar and tartar sauce and chips. Garnish with the fried parsley, if desired.

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.