Beer Battered Fish and Chips - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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Beer Battered Fish and Chips is such a classic. The flavor of beer adds so much to these fish and chips. If you do not have one of those chip shops nearby, you can still enjoy delicious fish with an unforgettable crispy coating with this recipe.

Beer Battered Fish and Chips - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Best fried fish recipe

This is a recipe for those who love crispy beer batter fish. This fried fish recipe makes a tasty meal to enjoy on any day.

What makes beer battered fish and french fries such a comfort food?

This dish is a delightful combination of textures and flavors. The fish is incredibly succulent with a crispy casing, thanks to the fish and chips batter recipe. Then, of course, there’s nothing better than some fried potato pieces that have the perfect touch of salt.

Both components of the dish are delicious when they are hot, fresh, and crispy. Indulging in some scrumptious fried food now and then is genuinely one of life’s best experiences!

Why you should try this recipe

Making fish and chips at home is effortless with this recipe. You no longer have to limit your enjoyment of this dish to restaurants.

Soaking the potatoes is the most time-consuming step, but after that, you can prepare the beer batter in just a few minutes. Moreover, frying the fish and chips is a quick process.

This recipe for crispy beer battered fish has a classic flavor due to the beer batter. However, it is also simple enough to customize if you want to mix in black pepper, garlic powder, or other spices with the flour.

What types of fish can you use for this recipe?

This recipe recommends cod, but you could use other types of white fish fillet. I do recommend a firm fish because the batter is a little heavy, and it may break fish thin pieces of fish.

For instance, you can make a delicious beer battered halibut, hake, haddock, or tilapia. Moreover, if you’re someone who would prefer a beer battered catfish, then you can certainly try that too!

If you are using frozen fish, I recommend you thaw the fish completely. Then blot off the extra moisture the best you can with paper towels. This way, the batter will stick to the fish.

Ingredients you will need

Here is a list of the Beer Battered Fish and Chips recipe ingredients. The exact measurements can be found in the printable recipe card below.

  • White cod – or any type of fish fillet
  • All-purpose flour
  • Egg
  • Milk
  • Beer – we recommend that you use your favorite beer, we enjoy pilsners and lagers for this recipe
  • Salt
  • Russet potatoes
  • Vegetable oil for frying
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Best Oil for Frying Fish

You will cook this fish in hot oil. People always ask me what type of oil should use. I recommend a couple of different types of oil for deep-frying fish.

I love frying in peanut oil when I can buy it on sale. When I can’t find peanut oil on sale, my second choice is to use regular vegetable oil or canola oil.

Recommended Equipment

I recommend T-fal FR8000 Oil Filtration Ultimate EZ Clean Easy to clean 3.5-Liter Fry Basket Stainless Steel Immersion Deep Fryer. This will help you to filter the oil and use it for something else. Often when you fry food the grease becomes dirty. If you filter the oil, you can remove the particles that will burn.

The oil will last longer if you can remove particles that are often too small to remove with a slotted spoon.

If you don’t have a deep fryer, you can use a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. You’ll also need a thermometer to monitor the oil temperature.

How to Make Fish and Chips

To make the French fries (chips):

  1. Peel, rinse and cut potatoes into sticks.
  2. Place potatoes into a bowl of water and soak for 1 to 2 hours.
  3. Remove potatoes from water and blot with paper towels until mostly dry.
  4. Fry potatoes for 4 to 5 minutes and place them on a wire rack for a minute or two.
  5. Place the semi-cooked potatoes back into the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp.
  6. Remove the fried potatoes from the oil and place them onto a wire rack.
  7. Season the potatoes with salt.
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To make the batter and fry the fish:

  1. Whisk flour and salt in a bowl and make a well in the center.
  2. Mix milk with egg, add it to the center of the well, and beat until aerated.
  3. Heat oil to 375°F.
  4. Slice fish into strips. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. When you remove the excess moisture from the fish the batter will stick better.
  5. Add beer to the batter and stir to combine.
  6. Dip and coat fillets with batter and place them into the oil.
  7. Fry the fish for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until they turn a light golden brown, turning once, and place them on paper towels to drain.
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What to Serve with Fish and Chips

Here are some great sides and sauces to go with fish and chips:

It’s entirely up to you how you want to enjoy your fish and chips. Different cultures have their unique ways of enjoying this dish. However, if you need some ideas, I’ve got you covered!

For instance, if you prefer to serve your fish and chips with side dishes that are typically popular in the U.S., you can pair them with homemade coleslaw, hush puppies, pickles, tartar sauce, or pickled red onions.

You can also enjoy them as British folks do by serving them with mushy peas, buttered bread, curry sauce, baked beans, or simply salt and vinegar. Many sides for fish and chips are either tangy or creamy, which balances the crispy fish and potatoes.

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How to Store Beer Battered Fish

Fried fish is the best quality when you enjoy it immediately! But if you happen to have extras left over, don’t worry. You can save them. First, try to remove any excess oil from the exterior of the fish. The less oily they are, the less soggy they will be in the refrigerator.

Next, transfer them to an airtight container or resealable gallon-sized bag and move them to the fridge. Enjoy them for up to 4 days!

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Battered Fish?

I suggest reheating the battered fish in the oven to retain a crispy texture. Make sure to preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the fish for about 10-12 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cooking time.

I hope you give this recipe a try! I know you will be amazed at the flavor of homemade beer batter fish and chips.

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More Beer Batter Recipes

  • Beer Battered Chicken
  • Beer Battered Onion Rings
  • Beer Battered Shrimp

Favorite Fish Recipes

  • Air Fryer Salmon Almondine
  • Baked Salmon
  • Baked Scallops
  • Bloomin Fried Shrimp
  • Killer Shrimp
  • Pan Fried Salmon
  • Maryland Crab Cakes
  • Poached Fish
  • Seafood Bisque
  • Shrimp Remoulade

Check out more of my easy seafood recipes and the best dinner recipes here on CopyKat!

Thanks to Dennis Miller, for this recipe.

Beer Battered Fish and Chips

You are going to be amazed at how easy it is to make fish and chips!

4.86 from 7 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Beer Battered Fish and Chips, Fish and Chips, Fish and Chips in Beer Batter

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 552kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

Beer Battered Fish

  • 1 pound white cod* or other firm fish
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • 5 ounces milk
  • 5 ounces beer flat
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • vegetable oil for frying

Homemade Chips

  • 2 pounds Russet potatoes

Instructions

Beer Battered Fish

  • Mix flour and salt in a bowl and make a well in the center.

  • Mix milk with egg slowly. Add the mixture to the center of the flour well and beat until aerated. Set aside.

  • Heat oil to 375 degrees F.

  • Run fingers across fish fillets and remove any pin bones. Slice the fillets into 1" by 3" strips.

  • When oil is up to temperature, add beer to the batter and mix in.

  • Dip and coat fillets with batter** and place them into oil, a few at a time.

  • Fry to a light golden brown, turning once.

  • Remove fish from the oil and place on paper towels to drain. To keep pieces hot, they can be placed in a 300 degree F oven while the balance is frying.

Homemade Chips

  • Peel and rinse potatoes.

  • Cut potatoes horizontally into 4 or 5 strips.

  • Cut potatoes into sticks.

  • Place potatoes into a bowl of water, and soak for 1 to 2 hours.

  • Remove potatoes from water, and shake off excess water, and blot with paper towels until mostly dry.

  • Fry potatoes for 4 to 5 minutes, and place on a wire rack, for a minute or two.

  • Place the semi-cooked potatoes back into the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp. Remove from oil and place onto a wire rack.

  • Season potatoes with salt.

Finished Dish

  • Place fish and chips on plates and sprinkle with a little salt and malt vinegar and enjoy. Please, "NO" ketchup.

Notes

*There are other types of cod, known as brown or red – do not use! The texture of meat and the amount of natural oil doesn’t give you the light flakiness desired.

**The batter will appear very thick and heavy, that’s ok. As long as you keep your oil temp up, there will be no sponging.

Recipe Options

Try adding dry mustard (Coleman’s), hot Hungarian paprika, or a bit of ground cayenne to the flour mix.

Nutrition

Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 1552mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 5mg

Beer Battered Fish and Chips - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What kind of beer is good for fish and chips batter? ›

What is the best beer for fish batter? It's best to save your craft beers for drinking, and use a simple light beer. Anything from very light (PBR) to a mild British ale (like Newcastle Brown Ale) will work well.

Why is my beer battered fish soggy? ›

If the wet batter is too thick (in consistency) your cooked batter will be thick (in depth) around the fish and tends to soak up too much oil. Too watery on the other hand and it won't coat the fish properly, and will go soggy quickly. Aim for a batter that runs but fully coats the back of a spoon – see video.

Why dip fish in flour before batter? ›

Dip fish pieces into the flour, turning to coat all sides, and shake off excess flour. The flour will help the batter stick to the fish.

What are the ingredients in Gordon beer battered fish? ›

Rice flour, water, wheat flour, beer (water, barley malt, corn, rice, hops, yeast), tapioca dextrin, modified corn starch, salt, whey, dextrose, baking powder (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, cream of tartar), sunflower lecithin, xanthan gum, natural flavor.

What beer makes the best batter? ›

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

Is beer batter better than regular batter? ›

Alcohol evaporates faster than water, so a beer batter doesn't have to cook as long as one made only with water or milk. The faster the batter dries, the lower the risk of overcooking the food. If the chef works fast enough, he can create a beautiful lacework in the coating that yields that classic beer-batter crunch.

How do I get my batter to stick to my fish? ›

Milk: The proteins in milk help the batter adhere to the fish and promote browning. Water: Use very cold water for the crispiest results. Baking powder: Baking powder ensures a light and crispy exterior.

How to get beer batter to stick? ›

Getting the Batter to Stick to the Fish

While most recipes just dip the fish straight into the batter, one small extra step makes it easier to coat the fish and creates a crispier coating: Coat the fish in rice flour first, then dip into the batter before frying.

Why won't my beer batter stick to my fish? ›

The right temp is a must. The range def has to be between 350-375. Lower then that and the batter will disperse, and higher then that the batter might stick but it will look like toast rather then fish.

How does Gordon Ramsay make batter for fish? ›

Cooking instructions
  1. In a large bowl, mix both flours, baking powder and sugar.
  2. Add soda water, lager and salt.
  3. Mix together only until the batter binds together and is smooth. ...
  4. Cover your fish with a dusting of plain flour, then drop into the batter and coat completely.
  5. Pre-heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 180C.

Should you season fish before battering? ›

Step 2: Season the Fillets

First, it allows you to evenly season the fish. Second, the salt draws moisture out of the fillets, which will react with the flour to make a glue, which makes the breading adhere much better to the fish when it is fried.

What does vodka do in fish batter? ›

Vodka – Adding a bit of vodka is the key to a crunchy exterior. Vodka evaporates more quickly than water which makes the crust perfectly crispy. Beer – A simple light beer or lager (it can be cheap) is best for beer batter.

Does the alcohol cook out of beer battered fish? ›

Lagers and pilsners have a minimal quantity of alcohol at about 5% by volume. So, it's not really about the alcohol, which cooks off, anyway, in the hot oil the fish is fried in. The beer bubbles have the sought-after quality.

Do fish and chip shops use milk in their batter? ›

Milk/Dairy: Some fish and chip shops may use dairy products in their recipes, particularly where the batter is concerned. This means that milk or butter may be found in the products.

Can you use any beer for fish batter? ›

There is no definitive answer to this question, as different beers will impart different flavors to the batter. However, a light, mildly flavored beer is generally a good option for fish batter. If you want to avoid using beer altogether, you can substitute sparkling water or club soda.

Can I use Budweiser for beer batter? ›

So, all in all, if you deep fry for larger groups several times a summer, you want a light American lager. Little flavor, plenty of carbonation, enough alcohol, and cheap to boot. I use Budweiser. The beer batter works because of the alcohol and the CO2 in beer.

Is Corona good for beer battered fish? ›

And while typical beer batters include dark heavy ales, I knew that the lightness of the Corona Extra beer would provide just the right amount of flavor without taking over the dish. And like all fish taco recipes, there needed to be a crunchy slaw on top to cut through the deep fried aspect of the dish.

What does beer do in fish and chips? ›

Speaking of beer, it's the secret to the perfect batter, which makes it super fluffy, smooth and crispy all at the same time (but if you don't do alcohol, check out the recipe card below for a substitute).

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