Best-ever Fresh Catch Beer-battered Fish

‘Best ever’ is a slightly overused term these days and not one we use lightly. BUT, this recipe certainly deserves that claim to fame. The secret is to have really cold flour and beer. I keep the flour in the freezer, weighed up in small bags, ready to be whipped out to make the perfect, crunchy and totally delicious battered fish.

1 litre neutral oil for frying

11/3 cups plain flour, well chilled

1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon sea salt 250ml very cold lager

600 grams firm white fish, cut into serving portions

TO SERVE

Chips (see recipe below) lemon wedges

Tartare Sauce (see page 104)

Heat the oil in a deep saucepan to 180°C, or until a piece of bread dropped in turns golden in 30 seconds.

Whisk the baking powder and salt into the chilled flour. Quickly whisk in the cold beer until you have a thick batter. Do all of this just before you cook the fish.

Dip your fish into the batter then, holding it on the slimmer end, very slowly lower it into the oil so the batter starts to instantly puff up, before lowering it fully into the pan. If you let go straight away it will sink to the bottom and stick on the base of the pan.

The fish will take about 2 minutes each side to cook, but this will depend on the thickness of the fillets. Remove and drain on kitchen towels. Sprinkle with a little sea salt and keep warm on a cooling rack set over a baking tray in a low oven while you cook the remaining fish.

Serve the fish with chips, lemon wedges for squeezing over and tartare sauce.

TO SERVE: SERVES 4