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Mat Arnfeld’s Fish and Chips

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Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted, plus more as needed
Kosher salt
1 pint brown ale
Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
8 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
4 (6-ounce) cod, haddock, or halibut fillets, about 1 inch thick
Malt vinegar, for serving

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put 1 1/2 cups of the flour and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in the ale until smooth. (For a lighter batter, use a handheld immersion blender to combine.) The batter should have the consistency of heavy cream; if it is too thin, whisk in a little more flour. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

    Step 2

    Fill a deep-fryer or heavy pot halfway with oil, and heat to 300°F. Add your chips carefully, so as not to excite the oil, and cook for about 3 minutes; they shouldn’t color. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and let cool.

    Step 3

    Raise the oil temperature to 350°F. Put your chips in the oil and fry until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.

    Step 4

    Raise the oil temperature to 375°F.

    Step 5

    Put the remaining 1/2 cup flour in a baking dish. Season the fish generously with salt; then dredge in the flour, shaking off any excess. Give the batter a stir and dip the fish in the batter, shaking off any excess. Fry the fish, flipping once and adjusting the heat as necessary, until golden brown and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and season with salt. Serve with the chips and malt vinegar.

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