Beer Battered Flathead and Chips
Serves 4
Time 30 minutes
Ingredients
50g rice flour
50g ‘00’ flour, plus extra for dusting
200ml beer
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
200g flathead fillets
4 large potatoes, Dutch cream ideally
Tartare Sauce
3 egg yolks
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp rice vinegar
200ml vegetable oil
50ml extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp capers, drained and chopped
1 tbsp gherkins, drained and chopped (Keep some of the juice for the mayonnaise)
½ small shallot, finely chopped
Squeeze of lemon juice
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Method
Peel and wash your potatoes. Bring them to the boil in salted water and par cook them until the knife slips in the outside but there is still a little resistance in the middle.
When you strain them off in your collider let the outside ruffle a bit, this will enable you to get a crispier chip. Set to one side until needed.
To make your batter, mix your flours together and slowly pour in your beer. Combine well and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Bring your oil to 190°C. First, fry your chips until nice and golden and crispy on the outside. Then dip your fish into your batter and place it into your hot oil, carefully releasing it away from yourself. Repeat this process until all the fish is done and beautifully cooked.
For the tartare sauce, in a blender or using hand whisks (or good old-fashioned muscle) whisk up your eggs with your mustard, lemon juice and vinegar. Slowly add in your oil to emulsify. Add in your shallots, gherkins and capers and then fold through your parsley and season to taste.
NOTE: If the tartare looks too thick or it will split, add a little water as you go.