Fish and chips is a classic British recipe, and it’s not as hard to make at home as you may think. The battered fish and perfectly crispy triple-cooked chips, or fries for the Americans, are delicious. Whether you’re craving a taste of nostalgia or looking to impress your guests, this recipe promises to satisfy every palate.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Battered fish:
- 1-quart cold tap water
- 2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 4 (5 1/2-ounce) skinless cod fillets
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2/3 cup sparkling water
- 1/2 cup brown ale
- Maldon sea salt, to taste
- 2 medium lemons, cut into wedges
Tartare sauce:
- 2 large pasteurized egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- Tap water, as needed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon of chopped gherkins
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped capers
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped shallot
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chervil
Triple-cooked chips:
- 4 large (14-ounce) russet potatoes
- 1/4 cup of kosher salt, with the option to add more according to taste
- Canola oil
How to Make It
- To prepare the fish, stir together water and 2 tablespoons of kosher salt in a large bowl. Then add fish, cover, and refrigerate for one hour.
- In a bowl, combine the egg yolks, mustard, and white wine vinegar, then gradually whisk in oil until mixed. If it becomes thick, add a splash of water.
- Whisk in lemon juice, kosher salt, and cayenne pepper. Reserve half of the mixture.
- In another bowl, mix gherkins, capers, shallot, tarragon, parsley, and chervil with the reserved mixture, then refrigerate until needed.
- Heat water in a large pot until boiling, then simmer on medium-low. Prepare a baking sheet with a wire rack. Trim potatoes into rectangular shapes, season the water with salt, and boil the potatoes until tender, around nine minutes.
- Remove them from the water, and them let dry for 15 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan to 275°F, and fry potatoes until lightly golden and tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.
- Increase heat to 350°F, and return the potatoes to the oil until golden brown and crispy, about six minutes. Drain the fried chips on paper towels and season with salt.
- In a different large bowl, whisk together white pepper, 3/4 cup of flour, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Gradually add sparkling water and brown ale to create a light batter.
- Place the remaining 1/2 cup of flour in a dish. Pat the fish dry and lightly coat it with flour, then dip it into batter ensuring complete coverage.
- Fry fish in batches of two in hot oil until golden brown and crispy, about six minutes, flipping for even cooking.
- Remove them from the oil, place them on the rack, and season with sea salt. Repeat with the remaining fish.