Beer Battered Fish

By vpitts2004

Ingredients

• 4 cod fish fillets or 4 haddock fillets
• 6 ounces flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 (8 fluid ounce) bottle beer
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• salt & pepper
• extra flour for dustinng

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oil up in a lg pot or automatic deep fat fryer.

Put some flour onto a plate. Dredge the fish fillets in the flour thoroughly - this is VERY important, it stops the batter sliding off when fried! Leave the fish fillets in the flour while you make the batter.

Some people say you should make the batter at least one hour before - I have found little difference - so make it before if it is convenient or now!

Put flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and pepper into a large roomy bowl. Add the beer gradually, stop when you have a thick coating type of batter. Drink any beer that is left! Whisk thoroughly until it is smooth and there are no lumps.

Add the lemon juice OR a splash of malt vinegar if desired. Mix thoroughly again.

Have your paper towels ready to drain fish.

Take one fillet of fish at a time and holding it by the tail or thin end, swirl it around the batter until well coated - plunge into hot fat immediately. As soon as it has crisped up and set, add your other fillets one at a time, taking out the first ones as they cook - about 6 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness. Place onto a tray and keep warm in the oven.

Serve warm with tarter sauce or malt vinegar.