Traditional British Fish And Chips Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oil in a countertop deep-fryer to 250 degrees F.
• Rinse the potatoes in cold water and pat each chip with paper towels until absolutely dry. Poach the chips in the oil until cooked but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Scoop up the chips, shake off the excess oil and set aside. Turn up the heat on the fryer to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, vinegar and 3 heaping tablespoons salt until pasty. Add 2 cups water and whisk until there are no lumps. Refrigerate the batter for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Fill a second bowl with flour and season with salt. Sprinkle the fish fillets on both sides with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour, making sure each fillet is completely covered.
• Working in batches, shake off the excess flour from the fillets and dip them into the cooled batter. Let excess batter drip back into the bowl before gently lowering the fillets into the fryer. Fry until the batter is golden brown and the fish is just cooked through but still tender and juicy, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and transfer to the oven to keep warm.
• When all the fillets are cooked, crisp the chips in the fryer until golden brown. Carefully shake off the excess oil and season immediately with salt.
• Serve the fish and chips with malt vinegar and tartar sauce on the side.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into chips and soak in cold water for 5 mins, then wash until the water runs clear. Tip into a pan of cold water with a pinch of salt and 1 tsp vinegar. Bring to a simmer, then turn down the heat and simmer gently for 10-12 mins until cooked through but not falling apart. Drain gently, then place on a tray in a single layer and chill until needed. Can be prepared a day ahead.
• To make the tartare sauce, chop the cornichons, capers and shallot (finely chop if you prefer a smooth sauce), then combine with the parsley, mayo and a pinch of salt. Will keep chilled for up to 24 hours.
• When you're ready to fry, prepare the batter. Tip the flours and turmeric into a bowl with a pinch of salt, pour over the beer or fizzy water, and mix quickly until everything just comes together to the consistency of double cream - do not over-beat, a few lumps are fine. Keep chilled.
• Pour the oil into a deep, wide pan like a wok, or heat a deep-fat fryer to 180C. If using a pan or wok, ensure that it is no more than two-thirds full with oil. Heat the oil until it is shimmering and carefully lower in the chips using a slotted spoon. Fry for 8-10 mins, gently stirring occasionally until golden and crisp. Transfer to kitchen paper to drain.
• Put a little flour in a dish, then bring the oil you used to cook the chips up to 185C, if you have a thermometer, or until a drizzle of batter sizzles and crisps in less than a minute. Working quickly, dust the fish in flour, then dredge through the batter. Hold the fillet above the batter to let the excess drip back into the bowl, then carefully lower into the oil. Fry the fillets for a minute until the batter is just starting to set, then take a spoon and drizzle the fillets with extra batter to create an even crunchier, wispy coating. Fry the fish for about 4 mins, turning once, until deep golden and crisp. Lift onto some kitchen paper to drain for a minute, then serve with the chips, tartare sauce, and plenty of salt and vinegar.