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These Fish and Chips are crispy, flavorful and delicious. The real deal! Pair them with tartar sauce or malt vinegar. Rivals any restaurant fish and chips recipe!
Featured with this recipe
This is probably my favorite fish and chips recipe of all time! We used to live in the San Francisco Bay area and would get fresh fish and chips down on the wharf all the time. When made right, this recipe rivals anything you can buy near the ocean. Tender, flaky fillets battered and fried in hot oil to golden perfection, and served with crispy homemade French fries, this meal hits the spot any day of the week!
Ingredients in this Fish and Chips Recipe
If you’re not used to cooking with fish, this is a perfectly simple recipe to start with. Who doesn’t love a a good basket of fish fillet and fries? Here’s what you need:
- Cod or halibut boneless skinless fillets – you’ll want the fillets to be about half an inch thick. Since I don’t live by the ocean anymore, I get my fish from Costco. They have the white fish on hand. Use it within a few days of purchasing.
- Flour – all purpose flour for the perfect breading.
- Beef broth – one cup. You can use chicken or fish broth if you have that on hand, too. Some people also use beer.
- 2 eggs – two large eggs or three medium sized eggs.
- Baking powder
- Salt – I prefer to use kosher salt, or sea salt.
- Pepper – black pepper, freshly ground is best, but you can use pre-ground pepper too.
- Wondra Flour – I get mine from Amazon. It’s what gives the fish batter a crispy, light texture.
- Lemon wedges – for garnish
- Malt vinegar – spritz some over the top for amazing flavor.
- Tartar sauce – for dipping. You can just use your favorite brand, or make your own delicious homemade tartar sauce!
- Oil – for frying. I prefer using vegetable oil to olive oil because it has a more mild flavor and won’t compete with the fish.
For the “Chips”
- All you need for the very best fries to serve along side your fish, are five russet potatoes and some vegetable oil for frying.
- Cut into wedges or any fry shape. Fry in the deep fryer at 375 degrees f for about 6-7 minutes until golden brown. Work in small batches so the temperature of the oil doesn’t get too cool.
- Cook your chips first, before the fish, so your oil doesn’t taste like fish.
- Sprinkle the fries with kosher salt while they’re still warm.
- Keep the fries warm on a roasting rack or a baking sheet in the oven at a temp about 300 degrees.
Tips for Perfectly Crisp and Flaky Fish
- Make sure the batter ingredients are at room temperature.
- Whisk together the flour, beef broth, eggs, baking powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
- Dip each fish fillet in the batter, then in the Wondra Flour.
- Fry in the same vegetable oil as the potatoes, again working in small batches so the oil temperature stays at 375 degrees. Use a thermometer to check the temp.
- Fry for about 6-7 minutes or until golden brown. The fish should be flaky inside when you cut into it.
- If the fish seems too oily, drain on some paper towels.
- Season with lemon and malt vinegar and dip in our homemade tartar sauce. It pairs perfectly with this fish and chips recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fish and Chips
Create a Wondra substitute by combining two cups of flour with a teaspoon of cornstarch. Mix together well and sift twice to loosen the flour.
Not with this recipe. It will create a big mess. If a fish is battered, pre-fried and frozen, you can cook it in an air fryer.
White fish is best for frying. We’ve mentioned halibut and cod but you can also use bass, trout and catfish.
READ NEXT: Top Ten Shrimp Recipes
More Seafood Recipes
There are plenty of great ways to enjoy seafood flavor. Here are a few seafood recipes to try.
- Thick and Hearty Seafood Chowder features chunks of seasoned fish and potatoes; hands-down the best Seafood Chowder recipe ever.
- Homemade Tarter Sauce is so easy to make yourself and is better than anything you can buy.
- Shrimp Po Boys with Creamy Cajun Sauce are the ultimate sandwich for seafood lovers. Tender shrimp drizzled with creamy, spicy sauce and crunchy cabbage on a soft roll.
- Baked Salmon with Lemon is a zesty baked salmon for a light fresh meal. Try it with our creamy tzatziki sauce for even more flavor.
- Best Clam Chowder Recipe Ever lives up to its name. The secret is steaming fresh clams yourself. Don’t be scared. It’s easier than you think.
How To Make Fish and Chips
Fish and Chips
Video
Ingredients
Fish
- 1 pound cod or halibut boneless skinless filets (about ½ inch thick)
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup Wondra Flour
- Lemon wedges malt vinegar, and tartar sauce.
Chips
- 5 russet potatoes cut into desired thickness of fries.
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Fish
- Mix regular flour, beef broth, eggs, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Beat together until smooth.
- Dip fish into batter, then coat in Wondra Flour.
- Fry in vegetable oil in a deep pan or deep fryer at 375 for 6 to 7 minutes or until golden brown and flakey when you cut into it.
- Season with lemon and malt vinegar and dip in our homemade tartar sauce.
Chips
- Fry in deep fryer at 375 for about 6 to 7 minutes, til golden brown. Transfer to wire rack on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt, and keep warm in the oven at about 300 degrees.
- Serve with fish and malt vinegar, lemon, and tartar sauce.
Notes
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- Cook your chips first, before the fish, so your oil doesn’t taste like fish.
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- Sprinkle the fries with kosher salt while they’re still warm.
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- Keep the fries warm on a roasting rack or a baking sheet in the oven at a temp about 300 degrees
- If the fish seems too oily after frying, drain on some paper towels.
I was looking for a better fried fish recipe that was simple AND what I God was simple and superb! The batter was light, and not greasy (rested on paper bags after frying) and the most perfect flaky texture. I didn’t try the chips because I don’t do a lot of fried foods. This fried fish paired welll with my own air fried potatoes. Highly recommend with the tartar recipe too! My new go to! Thanks for sharing!
How can I get the recipe printed on my printer? Love fish and chips.
Yes! If you scroll down to the recipe card you can click print!
Can you make this in the air fryer?
I haven’t tried it in the air fryer, but I bet it would turn out great!
Our family is all about a good fish n chips meal! We enjoy them in San Francisco, CA along the wharf, and in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. My whole family loved this homemade recipe. Yum. Yum! Thanks for sharing it.
Delicious! My favorite on Fridays. This is a wonderful classic recipe!
What is Wondra flour please?
Wondra (brand name) flour can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores. It is a smooth, light flour that dissolves quicker than all-purpose flour. It is good for gravies because it doesn’t form into lumps. It works well for baking and coating chicken and fish for frying. Thanks for asking!
Great recipes! Thank You.
Thank you very much for posting this wonderful recipe. I was scared to try and make fried fish since it never turns out, I made the recipe as directed last night, not only was it easy to make but very good. I could not tell the difference between home made and restaurant.
can you sub the beef broth for anything?
Yes, a lot of people use beer instead of beef broth making them beer batter fish and chips.
I live overseas so finding Wondra flour is not an option, when finding just regular flour is a challenge. Can I use regular flour again instead for the final coating? How will it affect the texture or taste? A tip on keeping your sea caught fish fresh even when you have to freeze it. While out fishing grab up a buck of fresh sea water. After cleaning your fish; place in freezer zip lock bags, cover with the fresh sea water, squeeze out air and freeze. Also thaw in the seawater. Will taste just like you just caught it.
Using regular flour will work just fine. Thanks for the great input!!!
My family loved this! Best fish and chips we have had! Can’t wait to make this again!
what is Wondra flour? can I find it at a “normal” grocery store?
Yes, it is in a blue canister by the regular flour. We have found it everywhere we have lived.
Do I need the wondra flour ??? I couldn’t find it …;(
You don’t need it, you can use regular. I just like the way the wondra fries up. It is a much finer flour.
I would simply add some cornstarch w/ the regular flour if Wondra is not available…. this will lighten up the flour..