Do you want in a little secret for how to get truly light and crispy battered fish at home? Well, it's probably not actually a secret to most people, but I digress. The secret? Bubbles. Bubbly water, that is. In order to get that crispy, takeaway style crisp you need to get air into your batter. You can do this by adding baking powder and/or yeast to add in a little carbonation, but I chose to go with a bit of sparkling water for this recipe.
I'm sure British people everywhere are rolling their eyes at my recent, "Ah-ha!" moment, but hey. I am American after all - I'm still learning.
Crispy Batter Cod with a Lemon Basil Butter Sauce
A gluten free take on a traditional dish smothered in a lemon basil butter sauce. The secret is in the bubbles...
Ingredients
- 2 fillets Cod
- 1 cup divided Rice flour (160 grams) (can sub with Tapioca Flour to keep Paleo)
- 1 whole Egg
- 1/2 cup Sparkling Water (110 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- for frying Coconunt Oil
- 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- about 5 large leaves Fresh Basil Chopped
Instructions
1. In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup of your flour, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Once mixed, whisk in the egg. You'll have a very thick, goop and that's fine. Add in your sparkling water and mix. It's ok to have lumps left in your batter. Set aside.
2. Put the second half of your flour in a shallow dish and set aside.
3. Take your cod fillets - pat them dry, and then dip them into your first, sparkling water and flour mixture coating each side of the cod. Then dip your cod in the shallow dish containing the rice flour and coat all around.
4. In a large wok or deep frying pan, melt enough coconut oil that your cod will be halfway covered when you fry it. Test that your oil is hot enough by getting the tips of your fingers wet with water and flicking the excess water into the pan. When the oil sizzles from the water and pops - it's hot enough.
5. Gently lay each cod fillet in the wok and allow it to fry undisturbed for at least 5 minutes. When you notice the sides of the fillet to turn slightly golden, flip it over and allow the next side to fry undisturbed. Depending on the thickness of your cod, you may need to turn the fillets on the sides to crisp up as well. Fry each side until you get a nice golden brown color.
6. While your cod is finishing off begin working on your lemon butter sauce. In a small pot, melt the butter. Once melted add in freshly squeezed lemon juice and the chopped basil leaves and stir.
7. Once the cod is finished, remove from heat and allow it to rest for a couple minutes. When it's time to eat, drizzle your butter sauce over the cod so it doesn't have time to get soggy, and enjoy!
2. Put the second half of your flour in a shallow dish and set aside.
3. Take your cod fillets - pat them dry, and then dip them into your first, sparkling water and flour mixture coating each side of the cod. Then dip your cod in the shallow dish containing the rice flour and coat all around.
4. In a large wok or deep frying pan, melt enough coconut oil that your cod will be halfway covered when you fry it. Test that your oil is hot enough by getting the tips of your fingers wet with water and flicking the excess water into the pan. When the oil sizzles from the water and pops - it's hot enough.
5. Gently lay each cod fillet in the wok and allow it to fry undisturbed for at least 5 minutes. When you notice the sides of the fillet to turn slightly golden, flip it over and allow the next side to fry undisturbed. Depending on the thickness of your cod, you may need to turn the fillets on the sides to crisp up as well. Fry each side until you get a nice golden brown color.
6. While your cod is finishing off begin working on your lemon butter sauce. In a small pot, melt the butter. Once melted add in freshly squeezed lemon juice and the chopped basil leaves and stir.
7. Once the cod is finished, remove from heat and allow it to rest for a couple minutes. When it's time to eat, drizzle your butter sauce over the cod so it doesn't have time to get soggy, and enjoy!
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 2 pieces of cod
Go ahead and bring on the butter sauce. You know you want to.
This looks super delicous and healthy! I love the part beneath your profile pic where you say that you make the food and Mike eats it. That´s exactly how we roll too..
ReplyDeleteps. thanks for stopping by and leaving a commnet on my blog!