While my husband and I were honeymooning in jolly old Londontown two years ago, I had every intention of trying all the traditional English dishes. On my list were Yorkshire pudding, cottage pie and a scrumptious Sunday roast. But after my first (attempt at a) pint of ice cold lager and plate of fresh fish and chips, I was smitten. It was practically all I ate for the next four days.
Thank GOD for all the walking we did!
This amazingly delicious recipe for fish and chips took us right back to all the warm, lively pubs we visited in the West End, London’s hip and happening hub for good food and tons of things to do. Battered in a mixture of beer and flour, the fried cod was tender, flaky and melt-in-your-mouth tasty. The russet potato “chips”, or fries, were simply coated in a little salt and pepper before crisping up in the big pot of bubbling oil.
For this recipe, I used a large Le Creuset Dutch oven and a candy thermometer ($9 from Target), which was necessary to keep track of the oil temperature. My first deep-frying experience was easier than expected and yielded incredibly tasty results. I know you will enjoy these fish and chips so much and agree that it’s one mouthwatering English meal!
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Beer Battered Fish and Chips
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
6 cups vegetable oil
4 large baking potatoes, cut into French fry strips
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer (I used Samuel Adams Scotch Ale)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 pounds cod fillets, skinned with bones removed, and fish cut diagonally into 1-inch-wide strips (5 to 6-inches long)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions:
In a 5 quart Dutch oven, heat oil to 375 degrees F.
Fry potatoes until golden brown, roughly 10 minutes removing with a slotted spoon or spider. Hold in low oven to keep warm while cooking the fish.
Preheat oven to 225 degrees F.
In a large bowl, pour in 1 bottle of beer. Sift 1 1/2 cups flour into the bowl, whisking in gently until just combined, stir in salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pat fish dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper and coat the fish in the beer batter. Dredge the pieces of fish in 1/2 cup of remaining flour and slide into oil as coated. Fry fish, turning over frequently, until deep golden and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Fry remaining fish in batches, returning oil to 375 degrees F between batches.
Serve fish with French fries, and if desired, tartar sauce and/or ketchup, malt vinegar and lemon wedges.
Enjoy!
Adapted from Paula Deen via FoodNetwork.com
My husband would love me forever if I made these! :) Especially since it uses Sam Adams! :)
Alas, I can’t make this at home. But I do love it when I’m out.
YUMMY! What a great recipe.
:-) Mandy
This is an old time favorite of mine. I used to get so excited when my Poppa would bring home lots of fish from his annual fishing trip! Love this.
Fish and chips ranks right up there with mac and cheese in my book… heck but all of those on a plate together and we are talking HEAVEN!!! :) Love the picture..just want to reach right in there and grab that piece of fish!
We used to make beer batter shrimp years ago–don’t know if it was the crispy texture or the honey-mustard sauce we dipped them in, but it was a favorite! Don’t eat fried foods much anymore…thanks for the memories :)
yum!! i try to avoid fried foods but fish and chips gets me every time!
I like to use Grouper as well, I think it ends up being a little sweeter. Then I serve it along side some homemade tartar sauce with a dash of tobasco in it and it’s perfection! Thanks for reminding me that it’s definitely time for a fish fix :)
We recently went to Charleston, SC and I had the BEST fish and chips I’ve ever eaten in my life. It was so delicious and I’ve been craving it ever since. I might just have to give this version a try!
Looks easy enough! And tasty!
I love your blog, btw. Simply chic!
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I always order fish & chips when were out, one of my all time favorites! I should try it at home now.
Wow beautiful photo (as always)! I love fish and chips but never made one myself. I need to keep this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
The beer battered fish looks great but those fries look unreal. I am on such a French fry kick lately! It’s bad, but so good!
Thanks for stopping by, Georgia! I love your blog. It is so beautiful!
Authentic English fish and chips is definitely on my list of things to eat one day. I never even though of making it for myself. You make it sound so easy!
this looks so good! love your blog!
Those beer battered fish sticks look so good!
Thank you, Angie! That’s a whole piece of fish, though, not fish sticks.
Could that picture be any more enticing? Fish and chips are divine and I can imagine how I would also eat them for four days straight given the opportunity!
We already bought shrimp for this Friday’s dinner, but saving this one to try NEXT Friday. Yummy…that looks so nice and brown!!
Perfect dish for this time of year, it looks amazing!
I could just reach out and grab that gorgeous piece of fried fish (uh…with a fork, of course :-)).
Georgia- What a wonderful place to go for your honeymoon. London is one of those places that seems like a must see. Your fish and chips look so tasty. I can definitely see why you’d eat them for 4 days :)
If you ever go back to Blighty, travel about a bit, especially to a little seaside town in the north called Cleethorpes. Visit Steel’s corner house restaurant for the best Fish and Chips in the world. Don’t forget to ask for the pot of tea and bread and butter. I live in NZ now and miss decent fish and chips terribly.
Thanks for the recipe. For extra crispness add a tablespoonfull of ground rice to the batter mix.
Thanks for the tips, David! Ever since our visit I’ve been lusting after visiting England again, outside of the big cities. If I ever travel that way, I will definitely remember your advice! :)
I heard great flavor using beer as a batter. That’s very interesting. I definitely bookmark this recipe.
I love, love, love fish and chips… your fish looks perfectly cooked – yum!
My husband and I spent a week in London a few years ago and ate our way through London as well! This was definitely one of our favorites…I can’t wait to recreate this in my own kitchen! Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe! :)
Honestly, I would pay the big bucks to eat at your house! This looks SO GOOD. It reminds me of the fish and chips I had in Australia. I would love to try to replicate this…What a fun meal!
My husband and I met and married in Wisconsin where going out for Friday night fish fries was a weekly tradition. We live in St. Louis now, and I’ve never found fish here that measured up. Your recipe takes care of that. I’m going to surprise my hubby with a home cooked fish fry this Friday. Thanks!
Fish and chips is definitely one of my favorite “bad for you” meals, but it’s something I’ve never attempted at home. Deep fying scares me! Your fish lookes absolutely amazing, though!
This fish looks perfectly cooked! I love crispy batter fried fish but hardly ever do it at home. This looks so delicious!
Your fish sticks look amazing!
My mouth is watering – they look perfect! I’ve never tried making fish and chips at home before and now I have to – bookmarked!
I agree- fish and chips are the way to go while in London. Thanks for the recipe! I hope I can try it out soon. :)
I just found your site today and I’m in love! :) Thanks!
I don’t buy fish sticks for my kids, and the first (and last) visit to Long John Silver’s (prompted by my husband’s childhood memories) was a debacle.
But everybody needs good fish and chips once in a while. Thanks for the inspiration! My girls will love it!
I found this through pinterest and made them for my husband and boys tonight for an early St. Patrick’s Day dinner. They were a big hit. Thanks :)