Description
This crispy fish batter recipe creates a light, golden, and ultra-crunchy coating. Made with simple pantry ingredients and carbonated liquid for extra crispiness, it’s perfect for cod, haddock, tilapia, and even shrimp.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1 cup cold sparkling water or beer
- 1 egg (optional, for added richness)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Fish
- Use fresh, boneless fish fillets such as cod, haddock, or pollock.
- Pat them dry with paper towels to help the batter adhere properly.
2. Mix the Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- Slowly pour in the cold sparkling water or beer while whisking continuously until smooth.
- If using an egg, whisk it in until well combined.
3. Heat the Oil
- Pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil into a deep pan or fryer.
- Heat to 350°F (175°C) for optimal frying.
4. Coat and Fry
- Dip each fish fillet into the batter, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Carefully place the fish into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Fry for 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown and crispy.
5. Drain and Serve
- Remove fish with a slotted spoon and place on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve immediately with tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and crispy fries.
Notes
- Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour.
- Extra Crunchy Batter: Replace half of the flour with rice flour for an even crispier texture.
- Spicy Kick: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or chili powder for heat.
- Garlic Herb Flavor: Mix in ½ teaspoon garlic powder and dried herbs like thyme or oregano.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: American, british
Keywords: crispy fish batter, fish and chips, best fish batter, homemade fish batter, crunchy fish recipe