How to Make Fish Batter with Cornmeal! Quick Deep-Frying Recipes

Author: Chester P. Rector
April 29, 2020

The batter is most of the time used for pancakes, cakes and also a coating for fried foods. By fried foods mean chips, fish, chicken and so on. Most batters ate derived from mixing dry flours with eggs and liquids such as milk or water.

Fish batter adds taste to the fish fillets dunked in it, making it delicious, which leaves you wanting for more. It doesn’t take time, and it is quite straightforward to prepare and is an easy dish to eat as fish has less fat.

Preparing a perfect fish batter is a crucial step to getting a delicious crunchy fish. Follow me as we unlock recipes of how to make a fish batter that makes your fish fillet mouthwatering and yummy.

What Kind of Fish is Used in Fish Batter?

There are different types of fish around, but not all of them are good for frying, especially deep frying. Some things to consider when picking a fish to fry is its flavor and oiliness. Go for an option that is not too oily and has a neutral taste.

Options like Tuna, Salmon, Sea Bass are dense and oily and not usually perfect for frying. However, options like Tilapia, Alaskan cod, Catfish, Halibut, Trout, Haddock are possible choices used in the fish batter.

Also, white-fleshed fish are excellent choices used in the fish batter.

How to Make Fish Batter

There are various methods to make fish batter, and they have the same purpose, which is to make delicious fish fillet. 

You can have the crispy fish batter, Classic fish batter, battered Beer fish, Cornmeal fish batter, Long John Silver’s fish batter and so on. All these are ways of making batter to coat your fish fillet.

Crispy Fish Batter

A trick to get this right is the consistency of the batter. Make sure the batter is not too thick but rather thin, or else it becomes soggy rather than crunchy. Preheating the oil to the perfect temperature is also essential to avoid the fish from absorbing fat.

Ingredient

  • One cup of all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup of milk
  • ½ cup of water
  • ¼ cup of baking powder
  • One teaspoon of salt
  • Fish fillet
  • Cooking oil for frying

Direction

Step 1

Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt thoroughly in a bowl and do not stop until it is well combined.

Step 2

Then add the water and milk to it. Consistently whisk until the batter is smooth and without lumps.

Step 3

At this point, the first two steps are complete. The next step is to use the paste, which is dip fish fillets into the batter one after the other. Then fry it in your preheated oil until they properly cook.

Step 4

Serve with any extras and enjoy your meal.

Classic Fish Batter

Ingredient

  • One cup of all-purpose flour
  • One teaspoon of baking powder
  • One teaspoon of salt
  • One teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • One cup of milk
  • One egg
  • Fish fillet
  • Cooking oil for frying

Direction

Step 1

Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper well. Continue with this until it is well combined.

Step 2

Add the milk to it and continue to whisk until it is properly combined.

Step 3

Break in the egg and continue to whisk until it is thoroughly mixed, smooth and without lumps.

Step 4

Dip the fish fillet into the well-mixed batter piece by piece and fry in preheated cooking oil. Fry until they properly cook.

Step 5

Serve and enjoy with any additional touch-ups with family and friends.

Long John Silver’s Fish Batter

Ingredient

  • ¾ cup of flour
  • Two tablespoons of cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • ¾ cup of water
  • Fish fillet
  • Cooking oil for frying

Direction

Step 1

Add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, pepper, garlic powder, salt together in a bowl. Mix them together until it is thoroughly combined.

Step 2

Add water to the mixed dry ingredients and whisk until it becomes smooth.

Step 3

Dip the fish fillet piece by piece into the creamy batter. Then go ahead to fry in preheated oil until it is properly cooked.

Step 3

Serve and enjoy the meal with family and friends.

How Long do You Fry Battered Fish?

Battered fish can be prepared for 4 to 10 minutes. However, it might be longer than that depending on the hotness of the oil and thickness of the fish.

How Can You Tell if The Fried Fish is Done?

Fish doesn’t take very long to cook, so you must not go far when cooking to avoid burning it. To know if the fish is either well prepared or fit for eating, various methods are used to check. Some are:

Using a meat thermometer. Insert it into the fish to check and once it reads 145°F, then you know that your fish is ready to dish.

Using a fork. Another way to determine its doneness is by gently inserting the tines of a fork into the fish. Twist the fork and pull up some fish, the fish is done if it breaks easily without resistance. 

You can also determine this once the fish turns to a golden brown color. 

Tips for Making Battered Fish

  • Add more water or milk to the batter if it is too thick in order to lighten it. This is because thick batter might make the fish become soggy after frying while light batter makes it crispy.
  • Be careful not to overcook your battered fish as you risk turning it bitter if the batter burns.
  • The fried battered fish can be eaten with ketchup, mustard, ranch, chips, or tartar sauce to further enjoy it.
  • After frying, drain the battered fish on paper towels in order to soak every bit of calories (oil) not wanted.
  • Do not overcrowd the frying pan with too many pieces at a time. Give it space because it makes it easier for you to turn and prevents from sticking together.

Fried Fish Cornmeal batter

How To Make Fish Batter FAQs

What is the Best Flour for Fish Batter?

The best flour for a batter is rice flour. This is because it is lighter than all-purpose flour and also makes it crispier than other flours. It is also gluten-free because it is made with just rice making it fit for those on a gluten-free diet.

Does Cornstarch Make Things Crispy?

Yes, cornstarch is very much perfect for making things crispy. It sticks as far as the fish is adequately moistened or marinated.

Is Cornmeal Batter Better Than Flour Batter?

Yes, cornmeal batter is better than flour batter. This is because cornmeal does not contain gluten, unlike flour. It is also safe for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Can You Make Batter With Beer?

Yes, you can make a batter with beer. We have recipes like cornmeal beer batter, beer-battered fish, and so on.

Must You Add Milk to the Fish Batter?

It is not compulsory. You can add whatever you want to and experiment on ingredients, just do whatever works for you.

Conclusion

Now, you can see that making battered fish is not very difficult to make but rather easy and convenient. The ingredients are things we have at home, so you don’t need to go grocery shopping before experimenting. It is a meal that you can quickly prepare when you have no idea what to cook. 

Follow this guide on how to make the fish batter to produce crispy and flavored batter-fried fish and enjoy.

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