Cooking with Platypus: Homemade Fish & Chips

[platypus]

Who doesn't like fish and chips? The advantage of cooking it at home is that it's quick, simple, you know whats gone into the batter, and you can use healthier oil to fry the fish in. For this dish its best if you buy and use fresh fish, but if you have to cook frozen, make sure its completely defrosted first. The batter is a simple one with my own little twist, if you want a standard batter don't bother with the herbs. Apologies for the photos, taken with a mediocre phone camera.

I don't have a deep fryer, for this method I have baked the chips, and used a wok to fry the fish. Be very careful when doing this as hot oil splashes and burns easily.

Ingredients

• 3 Cod Fillets (~200g)
• 3 or 4 large potatoes
• Peas
  
  For the batter
• 50g plain flour
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp ground pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
• A pinch of salt
• A glass of water

Making the batter

Combine the water, salt, flour and pepper, then make a well in the middle. Into the well place the yolk, the oil, the herbs, and the lemon juice.

Heat the oil in the wok for a good 10 minutes or so before getting the fish ready. Dip the fish in the batter, making sure any excess runs off, and then place the fish in the oil, frying for no more than 5 minutes, turning once.

For the chips - just cut the potatoes into chunky chip like shapes, place in a baking try, cover lightly in oil and then bake for around 45 minutes.

Boil some water whilst the fish is cooking, put the peas in for a few minutes, and then serve whilst hot .

 

[platypus]

Batter need beer or at least fizzy water to make it lighter.

Fizzy water is good in batter, and yes I use it from time to time - but this batter is lovely and light, I use less flour than most I think.

SO doing this! I can't eat dairy and to see a fish and chips in batter that doesn't contain milk =

Awesome, I don't usually use milk in batter!

 

[platypus]

Maybe fish, but need beef dripping for chips.

Looks great, Tried loads of batters including Hestons haven;t been impressed with any really. Will remember to try yours next time I do it, so rare though.

I never really bother with chips - might have used dripping if I were deep frying them but I prefer to bake them.

Batter on the fish doesnt look crisp.

I can assure you it was .

 

[platypus]

How much were the cod fillets? Interested to know in comparison to the £4.50+ charged at local chippys.

I love peas with fishnchips too.

£11.28 for the 3 .

 

[platypus]

Although, surely you don't need to use so much oil for frying?

Probably not, I had some oil to use up though .

 

[platypus]

Very nice. What oil did you fry with? I'm guessing extra virgin olive oil judging by the pic?

Yes indeed. It's a healthier alternative!

should have peeled the potatoes and after cutting them, fried them! Homemade chip are unbeatable when you have decent potatoes.

Nice looking fish though.

I made the chips how I like them, with skins on . Yes the fish was delicious.

 

[platypus]

Platypus, I am really impressed at your OP.

Well written, easy to follow, brilliant photos and a great way to cook chips that I have never seen before.

Well done.

Cheers fella, I am not a good photographer but they hopefully show the pertinent details as needed!

I wouldn't fry the fish in Olive Oil, it has a relatively strong flavour. A ground nut or vegetable oil would be much better.

I had to make do with half olive and half ground nut as thats all I had available. Failed somewhat on the preparation!

I'm so making this tomorrow!

EDIT: My housemate says if I cook with oil in a pan like that I'll burn my face off. Is this true?

You'll be fine, just don't put water near it and be careful when you put the fish in.

Looks awesome but i'd say use a more sustainable fish than cod, plus it would be a lot cheaperl

Well, I made sure it was ethically sourced (as much as I can of course) and the price was pretty good from a fishmonger to be fair.

Well I made this tonight Tasted amazing!! The wife said 'your nerdy forum came through, delicious'
Only annoying thing was the oil, just a pain in the **** to clean up after.
I couldn't resist and added some beer to the batter, some garlic seasoning to the chips.
Definitely will be making again.

Awesome, glad you enjoyed it. As for cleaning up, I hope you bottled it for recycling/taking to a proper disposal centre!