Ultimate Fish Batter Recipes

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients.
• Add water and mix well.
• Use to coat fish or chicken filets.
• Cover the fish completely.
• Deep fry until a nice golden brown.

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.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Take a large mixing bowl and add the flour and ½ tsp fine salt. Whisk together to incorporate the salt. Add the water and whisk until the batter is completely smooth and the flour is fully combined.
• Take the oil and pour into a large, sturdy saucepan with high sides. Heat over a high heat until it reaches 200C. To fry your ingredients, dip them in the batter, allowing any excess to run off, and carefully place into the hot oil. Fry until the batter is a rich, golden brown and crisp. The fried ingredients will likely float on top of the oil when cooked, too. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and blot on kitchen towel before serving. Sprinkle with a little flaky sea salt to keep crisp. The batter does not keep well and is best made just before using.