Check out this HuntFishMB Recipe video on Josh McFaddin’s deep-frying 101 tutorial on the basic “Fish and Chips”.
Whether it’s a shore lunch or on the ice, getting some tasty fried goodness from your recent catch, along with some crisp fries, is the best part of the day. Improve your game with these tips:
Best Fish + Chips: The Basics for the Best Results
What you’ll need (for 2 servings)
- 4 perch or walleye fillets
- Dry flour-based fish coating/batter
- Try Josh’s secret recipe: https://www.catchandcook.net/
- 2 large russet potatoes, cut into fries
- A deep fryer or pot with enough oil to fully submerge the fish + potatoes
How to do it:
- Heat your oil to 375 degrees.
FISH:
- Wet the fish fillets with water or beer, then dip into your dry batter. The wetness will allow for more coating to stick to the fish, making for a more flavourful and crispy coating. Repeat the process for an extra special experience.
- Gently lower the fish into the hot oil and monitor your temperature. If your temp drops below 350, you will end up with a soggy final product. Monitor the temperature and increase the heat to the oil if needed. Your fish will cook very quickly.
- Once golden brown, it’s ready to remove.
- Now, the secret here is to place the fish on a wire rack to drip dry. Placing on paper towels or stacking pieces will result in soggy fish. Just give it some space to breathe.
FRIES:
- add the raw potatoes to the hot oil and let them do their thing.
- When they start to brown slightly, remove them from the oil and place them in a bowl for a few minutes. What you are wanting to achieve here is a “Double Fry”. When the fries have a chance to cool, the moisture in the centre will find its way to the outside, usually making your fry soggy. Placing them back into the hot oil a second time will further boil out the internal moisture, resulting in a dryer and more crispy fry.
- Once the double-fry is accomplished, season the hot fries with a quality salt and eat them immediately.
- The best potato fries are the ones where you need to fan your mouth and constantly make mention of how hot they are on the inside.
Finished Product
- Put it all together, add your favourite sauces, and enjoy! I personally love a little dripping of Sriracha hot sauce as an excellent finishing move!
To find more HuntFishMB Recipes like this How-to deep-fry fish episode, visit the HuntFishMB Recipes Playlist on YouTube.