Beer-Battered Fish and Chips with BBQ Spice

Prep: 15 minCook: 15 min4 servingsmediumGerman-British fusion
Beer-Battered Fish and Chips with BBQ Spice

Crispy beer-battered cod served with golden fried potatoes and lemon. A German-style take on the classic featuring a savory BBQ rub in the batter, fried to golden brown in a Dutch oven at precisely controlled temperature.

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 2 ¼ lb cod fillets, dried
  • 2 ¼ lb potatoes, whole
  • 1 bottle beer
    sparkling water1:1vegan

    removes carbonation and alcohol flavor

    Full guide →
  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon BBQ rub (e.g., Magic Dust)
    smoked paprika + garlic powder1 tsp totalvegetarian

    different flavor profile

  • 1 packet baking powder
  • 1 piece lemon
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper
  • 4 cups oil, for frying

Instructions

  1. 1

    Prepare the beer batter by whisking together beer, flour, BBQ rub, and baking powder. Let rest for 30 minutes.

  2. 2

    Heat frying oil to 350°F in a Dutch oven.

  3. 3

    Pat fish dry and dust with flour.

  4. 4

    Dip fish in beer batter and carefully lower into hot oil.

  5. 5

    After about 4 minutes, gently turn fish once to brown evenly.

  6. 6

    Remove fish with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

  7. 7

    Fry potatoes until golden and arrange on a plate with a lemon slice.

Tips

Tip 1

Rest the batter for 30 minutes to achieve a lighter, crispier coating.

Tip 2

Keep oil temperature consistent at 170°C to avoid soggy batter.

Tip 3

Pat fish completely dry before flouring to promote even browning.

Good to Know

Storage

Best served immediately. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated in a 180°C oven for 8-10 minutes.

Make Ahead

Batter can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator. Potatoes can be cut and soaked in cold water for up to 4 hours before frying.

Serve With

Serve hot with lemon wedges and additional salt. Pairs well with tartar sauce, malt vinegar, or aioli.

See pairing guide →

Common Mistakes

Watch

Do not skip the batter rest time to avoid a thick, heavy coating.

Watch

Do not overcrowd the oil to avoid temperature drop and soggy results.

Watch

Do not flip fish multiple times to prevent the batter from breaking apart.

Substitutions

Vegan Options

beer
sparkling water1:1vegan

removes carbonation and alcohol flavor

Full guide →

General Alternatives

BBQ rub
smoked paprika + garlic powder1 tsp totalvegetarian

different flavor profile

Find more substitutions →