Crispy Beer-Battered Fish
A local restaurant made a similar breading for shrimp po' boys, but we think this version's better. I serve the beer battered fish with a ranch dressing and hot sauce mixture as a dip. —Jenny Wenzel, Gulfport, Mississippi
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1/3 cup beer or nonalcoholic beer
- 2 cups crushed unsalted top saltines (about 40)
- 4 cod fillets (6 ounces each)
- Oil for deep-fat frying
Reviews
Really good, used Halibut, nice
This was phenomenal! I couldn’t get a better order of fish and chips in a restaurant!! I tweeked the recipe as per Tony’s 4/19 comments. I used corn flake crumbs instead of cracker crumbs, and whole milk. I did use Bud Light as my beer. I used Canola oil for frying in a cast iron skillet. It was so crisp and crunchy, the costing, and the fish was cooked to perfection!! I didn’t make my own fries because my oven is down, so I made my fries in the toaster oven, and seasoned with Old Bay.
Thisis identical to the one I use in my restaurant except for the saltine crackers and 2% milk. **This is a top notch recipe! I've been using it for catfish filets and or nuggets instead of cod fish for years. It makes for a dynamite catfish po-boy too. My only differences are that I use crumbled corn flakes instead of saltine crackers and whole milk instead of 2%. Lastly Make sure the beer used is a lager, stout or pilsner ... don't use Mexican urinal water, near-beer or "lite" beer. It has to be a full bodied beer. There is no need to let the beer go flat to fight the fiz either... adding the milk the same time you add the beer takes care of that problem. I serve it with my version of a Mississippi Come Back Sauce. To Simplysandi ... if you're thinking to use bread crumbs, think panko instead ... you'll get a better crunch. Or for true cajun technique, use cornmeal and flour mix.
Can't wate to try this receipt. Can you use bread crumbs for crackers?
I believe baking soda is better to use than baking powder. It does need to be replenished, however, if left to stand too long. Also, club soda (seltzer water) can be used instead of beer but beer produces more of a bubbly batter or you can add a little lemon or lime to a club soda batter and it will create more bubbles.
Great batter. I used Old Bay seasoning. My family loves fish fries and this recipe is a hit!
Use any kind of fish. I have used haddock and cod. Wonderful. !
Can't wait to try this. Does any fish work well? (I am a catfish lover). Please advise. Thank you, absolutely LOVE your recipes.
Excellent! Very crispy and tasty batter! The fish was better than any we've ever made at home. My husband is a picky eater and he not only cleaned his plate but went back for seconds! The only change I made to the recipe was to use cajun seasoning as I could not find creole. I crushed the saltine crackers in my blender to make them extra fine. Will absolutely make this again!
Very good batter. Used real beer because I don't believe nonalcoholic beer is allowed in our home. If you put the prepared fish in the freezer 15-20 min then directly into the hot oil, the batter won't fall off the fish during frying.