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beefcurryfried

Fish and Chips

This traditional fish and chips recipe offers perfectly crispy battered fish paired with golden fries and homemade sauces, ideal for a satisfying dinner.

Nick's Kitchen

This traditional fish and chips recipe offers perfectly crispy battered fish paired with golden fries and homemade sauces, ideal for a satisfying dinner.

1 hr 5 min
Prep time
30 min
Cook time
1 hr 35 min
Total time
4
Yield

Ingredients

29 ingredients

Adjust servings

Servings: 42 to 8

Ingredients and nutrition update together

Per serving361 kcal
Fat
1g
Carbs
79g
Protein
8g

Whole recipe (4 servings): 1444 kcal

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup arrowroot (or ½ cup (96 gram) potato starch)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • pinch paprika
  • ¾ cup cold lager beer
  • 1 cup ice-cold sparkling water
  • 4 fillet cod or haddock
  • 4 russet potato
  • salt
  • 2 quart neutral oil
  • 1 cup beef tallow
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon cornichons (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon capers (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon shallot (finely minced)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
  • 2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • zest of one lemon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 1½ teaspoon mild curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • pinch salt

Method

40 steps
  1. Prepare the Potatoes:
  2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into ½-inch (1.2 centimeter) batons. Try to keep them uniform, but don’t worry about perfectly even cuts.
  3. Rinse in a colander until the water runs clear.
  4. Transfer to a bowl of cold water and soak for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Heat the Frying Oil:
  6. Heat two quarts of neutral oil and one cup beef tallow in a dutch oven fitted with a thermometer to 300°F (148°C).
  7. First Fry the Chips:
  8. Working in batches, fry the potatoes for five to six minutes, just until cooked through without browning.
  9. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 15 minutes.
  10. Make the Batter:
  11. Whisk together the flour, starch, baking powder, salt, white pepper, mustard powder, and paprika.
  12. Increase the oil temperature to 325°F (162°C).
  13. Add the cold lager and sparkling water to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. The batter should be slightly thicker than heavy cream. It should coat the back of a spoon and drip slowly.
  14. Rest for five minutes.
  15. Prepare the Fish:
  16. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and white pepper.
  17. Dust each piece lightly with potato starch.
  18. First Fry the Fish:
  19. Dip the fish into batter and let excess drip away.
  20. Carefully place fish into the hot oil away from you.
  21. Cook in batches for two to three minutes to set the structure without adding much color.
  22. Transfer to a wire rack and rest for at least five minutes.
  23. Second Fry the Fish:
  24. Increase the oil temperature to 350°F (176°C).
  25. Fry the fish a second time for two to three minutes or until deeply golden with defined ridges.
  26. Transfer to a wire rack and season immediately with salt and black pepper. Cool slightly.
  27. Finish the Chips:
  28. Ensure the oil is at 350°F (176°C), and return the potatoes to the pot.
  29. Fry for three to five minutes or until deeply golden and crisp outside with fluffy interiors.
  30. Transfer to a wire rack and salt immediately.
  31. Make the Tartar Sauce:
  32. Combine all tartar sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir well.
  33. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Chill until serving.
  34. Make the UK Curry Sauce:
  35. Stir together mayonnaise, curry powder, lemon juice, honey, and salt.
  36. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Chill until serving.
  37. To Serve:
  38. Arrange the fish slightly upright to show off the crispy ridges.
  39. Pile chips alongside the fish pieces.
  40. Add mushy peas on the side. Top with lemon wedges, and serve alongside tartar sauce, UK curry sauce, and malt vinegar.
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Recipe notes

Helpful tips

  • When you think of England, you might think of beef Wellington . However, fish and chips is actually England’s most famous dish, and for good reason! The combination of crispy, flaky textures and savory flavor is completely irresistible, though difficult to replicate.
  • Luckily, through all my travels and eating my way through countless versions, I’ve discovered the secret to the perfect pub-style homemade fish and chips. All you need is a few key ingredients and a little bit of patience. I’ll walk you through the entire process, sharing all my tips and tricks.
  • See the recipe card below for the complete ingredient list and instructions.
  • Fish Fillets – A firm, flaky white fish works best. Traditional fish and chips are often made with cod or haddock because they hold their shape well and stay tender and moist inside the crisp batter. However, you can use catfish or pollock if preferred. I recommend using fairly thick cuts, so they hold onto the beer batter and cook evenly.
  • All-Purpose Flour – This forms the base of the batter, giving it structure and helping it cling to the fish. If needed, substitute a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour to keep your fish and chips recipe gluten-free.
  • Arrowroot Starch – This is one of the secrets to creating an extra-light, crispy coating. When combined with the flour, arrowroot starch prevents the batter from becoming too dense or heavy, adding a delicate crunch. If you don’t have arrowroot, potato starch works just as well.
  • Baking Powder – This helps aerate the batter, giving it more lift and creating the signature craggly ridges we want.
  • Seasonings – Kosher salt, white pepper, mustard powder, and a pinch of paprika give the batter a subtle, savory flavor without being overpowering.
  • Use fairly thick fish fillets to hold the batter and cook evenly.
  • Reheat fish and chips in oven or air fryer for best results.

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven
  • Deep Fry Thermometer
  • Wire Rack
  • Large Mixing Bowls
  • Whisk
  • Colander
  • Sharp Knife
  • Paper Towels
  • Pair of Tongs or Spider Strainer
  • Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot
  • Wire racks
  • Knife and cutting board

Storage

Fish and chips are definitely best served fresh, but leftovers can still be saved and reheated well with a few tricks.; Refrigerator: Store leftover fish, chips, tartar sauce, and curry sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days.; Reheating Fish: Reheat the fish in the oven or air fryer at 400°F (204°C) for eight to ten minutes or just until it’s heated through and crisp. Avoid microwaving, which can make the coating soggy.; Reheating Chips: Reheat chips in the oven or air fryer at 400°F (204°C) for five to eight minutes or until crisp, shaking halfway through.; Freezer: The fried fish can be frozen for up to two months. Let it cool completely, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and store it in a freezer; safe container. Reheat straight from frozen in the oven or air fryer

Additional tips

  • Avoid microwaving leftover fish to prevent sogginess.

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