A step-by-step recipe for making crispy fish and chips, a classic British dish:
Ingredients:
For the Fish:
- 4 fillets of white fish (such as cod or haddock)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cold sparkling water or cold beer (adjust for desired thickness)
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Chips (Fries):
- 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into thick strips
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Chips (Fries):
1.1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into thick strips, resembling classic fries.
1.2. Rinse the potato strips in cold water to remove excess starch.
1.3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or a deep fryer to 350°F (175°C).
1.4. Carefully add the potato strips to the hot oil in batches, frying until they are golden brown and crispy, which should take about 5-7 minutes per batch.
1.5. Use a slotted spoon to remove the fries from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt while they are still hot.
2. Prepare the Fish:
2.1. In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper.
2.2. Gradually add the cold sparkling water or cold beer to the dry ingredients, whisking until you have a smooth batter. Adjust the amount of liquid to achieve your desired batter thickness. The batter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
2.3. Heat vegetable oil in a separate deep frying pan or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C).
2.4. Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels.
2.5. Dip each fish fillet into the batter, coating it evenly.
2.6. Carefully place the battered fish into the hot oil, one or two fillets at a time, depending on the size of your pan. Fry until the fish is golden brown and crispy, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan.
2.7. Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried fish from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
3. Serve:
Serve the crispy fish and chips hot. You can serve them with malt vinegar, tartar sauce, ketchup, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Enjoy your homemade crispy fish and chips, a classic and satisfying dish!