Description
This crispy fish batter recipe delivers perfectly golden, crunchy fish every time. Light, airy, and incredibly flavorful, it’s an easy way to bring restaurant-quality fish into your kitchen. Perfect for cod, haddock, or tilapia, this batter ensures every bite is crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1 cup cold sparkling water (or beer for a beer-batter twist)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Fish fillets (cod, haddock, or tilapia)
Instructions
- Prepare the Fish: Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels and lightly season with salt and pepper.
- Mix the Batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if using). Gradually add cold sparkling water or beer while whisking until smooth. Avoid overmixing.
- Heat the Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C). Ensure there’s enough oil to submerge the fish.
- Coat the Fish: Dredge each fish fillet lightly in flour, then dip into the batter, letting the excess drip off.
- Fry the Fish: Carefully place the battered fish into the hot oil, frying in small batches for 3–5 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve: Serve hot with tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and your favorite sides.
Notes
- For best results, use cold sparkling water or beer to create a light, crispy texture.
- Fry in small batches to maintain the oil temperature and ensure even cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of fried fish
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: crispy fish batter, fish fry recipe, easy fish batter, fried fish, crunchy fish