Classic British Fish and Chips

Classic British Fish and Chips

a British classic

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 15m
Cook Time: 20m
Total Time: 35m
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
4.8 (17 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For fish:

For chips:

For frying:

Nutritional Information

479
calories
3g
fat
62g
carbohydrates
47g
protein
111mg
cholesterol
870mg
sodium
Classic British Fish and Chips

Recipe Description

This Classic British Fish and Chips recipe really reminds me of home. I love it! Chips are what we call French fries in Britain. They taste amazing alongside light beer battered white fish. My secret ingredient for light batter is to add cold sparkling water to the flour with the beer.

To make these classic fish and chips start by making batter using beer, flour and sparkling water. Cut, wash and par-boil the chips. Dry the potatoes and the fish. Dip the fish into the batter and fry in hot oil. Be careful that you wait until the last moment to dip the fish in the batter and plunge it into the hot oil to fry. This way you will always have a light and crisp snap to the batter. To make the chips, fry the potatoes until golden and crisp.  Serve alongside my homemade quick tartar sauce! 

To make my version of Classic British Fish and Chips, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Classic British Fish and Chips

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Make fish batter

    32 min
    Step 1 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Set 2 tablespoons of flour aside and mix the remaining 5 tablespoons of flour with 7 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of baking powder in a large bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk continuously using a fork. While whisking, pour in ⅓ cup of beer and ⅓ cup of sparkling water and continue mixing until you have a thick, smooth batter. Place the batter in the fridge to rest for 30 minutes.

  2. 2

    Prepare chips

    5 min
    Step 2 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Slice the potatoes into ½-inch wide chips. Rinse the chips in a colander under cold running water.

  3. 3

    Par-boil potatoes

    3 min
    Step 3 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Bring the washed chips to a boil in a saucepan of water and simmer for 3 - 4 minutes.

  4. 4

    Drain and dry

    Step 4 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Drain the par-boiled potatoes and dry with paper towels. Chill in the refrigerator, covered with paper towels until needed.

  5. 5

    Season fish

    2 min
    Step 5 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Place the fish fillets on a paper towel and use another paper towel to pat dry. Season to taste with a pinch of sea salt.

  6. 6

    Heat oil

    3 min
    Step 6 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    In a deep-fat fryer or a large deep saucepan, heat 1 quart of oil to 350 °F.

  7. 7

    Cook chips once

    8 min
    Step 7 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Cook the chips in the fat in batches for about 2 minutes per batch. Once the chips are slightly cooked, remove them from the fat and drain. Keep to one side.

  8. 8

    Dust fish fillets

    1 min
    Step 8 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Place the 2 tablespoons of reserved flour in a shallow bowl. Place each fish fillet in the flour. Remove and shake off any excess.

  9. 9

    Batter fish

    2 min
    Step 9 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Dip the floured fish fillets in the batter and ensure the entire fillet is fully coated.

  10. 10

    Deep fry fish

    8 min
    Step 10 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Carefully lower each fillet into the hot oil and fry for about 8 minutes until the batter is crisp and golden.

  11. 11

    Drain fish

    Step 11 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Remove from the hot oil and drain the cooked fillets on paper towels. Season with salt and cover with parchment paper to keep hot.

  12. 12

    Increase heat and cook chips again

    4 min
    Step 12 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Increase the oil heat to 400 °F. Cook the chips for a second time until golden and crisp. Remove from the oil and drain. Season to taste with salt.

  13. 13

    Serve

    Step 13 - Classic British Fish and Chips

    Serve immediately with a large dollop homemade quick tartar sauce.

This Classic British Fish and Chips recipe is fantastic - it’s not only simple to prepare, it’s absolutely delicious too! Come back to leave a review if you try this delicious recipe!

About the author

Jeff O'connor

Jeff is a 38-year-old bachelor who prefers not to waste his time on salads and light meals. He’s a true carnivore who knows how to enjoy food to the max! Jeff will tell you how to cook rich and filling meals from scratch, bringing some real meaty decadence to your kitchen. His recipes are sure to satisfy every meat lover!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Mark
February 25, 2025
Verified

Superb recipe! Brings back my childhood vibes!

Emma
October 3, 2024
Verified

This fish and chips recipe brought back memories of my childhood in England. The batter was so light and crispy, just like I remember! Great tip with the sparkling water.

Henry Adams
September 18, 2024
Verified

Superb fish experience!

Hazel
September 1, 2023
Verified

Brought back memories from my childhood. This fish and chips recipe is simply delightful and very easy to make.

Fiona Thompson
June 2, 2023
Verified

Simply delicious!

Zoe
May 2, 2023
Verified

Superb. Making this fish and chips reminded me of my childhood summer visits to my grandma. The batter was perfectly light, just like she used to make.

Olivia Rossi
March 15, 2023
Verified

Making these Fish and Chips reminded me of Sunday nights at my grandparents’ house in London. The crisp batter and fluffy chips were just like I remember. My kids couldn't get enough, and I secretly added some sparkling water to the batter too!

Ellie
November 18, 2022
Verified

Great fish chips!

Nina Thompson
October 23, 2022
Verified

This recipe brought back memories of my childhood. The fish was so light and crispy, just like my mum used to make. We loved it.

Alice Thompson
October 19, 2022
Verified

Superb recipe, reminds me of my childhood.

Helena
September 20, 2022
Verified

Me encantan batidos! This fish and chips recipe brings me back to my childhood in Londres. The chips are perfect and fish is so light. Simple but delicious!

Yasmin
September 12, 2022
Verified

OMG, I just made this fish and chips and they came out sooo good! Tasted just like home! My fam was super impressed. Don't skip the sparkling water trick! 🎉🍟🐟

Wendy
March 4, 2022
Verified

Amazing! This fish and chips recipe took me back to my childhood in London. I made it for friends, and they were blown away by the crispiness and flavor. Those chips brought such comfort, just like home. Can't wait to make it again during our next movie night.

Quinn Taylor
December 6, 2021
Verified

Superb!

Rebecca Smith
November 9, 2021
Verified

This fish and chips recipe is absolutely superb! Reminds me of home.

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