Step 1

Slice fish into your preferred size portions. I like smaller pieces, about 2 ounces per piece, but sometimes you need to follow the natural cuts of the filet. You want portions that are evenly sized as much as possible. Pat dry with paper towel and set aside in the refrigerator.

Step 2

Peel the potatoes and slice off the “top & tail” to square off the ends of the potato and discard. Cut each potatoes lengthwise into 1/2 inch by 1/2-inch fries. Add potato pieces into a water bath for about 30 minutes.

Step 3

Remove from water and pat dry with paper towel.

Step 4

In heavy-bottomed Dutch oven (about 7 quart capacity), heat TWO of the three quarts oil over medium heat to 350°F. Add fries to hot oil and increase heat to high. Fry, stirring with mesh spider or slotted metal spoon, until potatoes turn light golden and just begin to brown at corners, 6 to 8 minutes.

Step 5

Transfer fries to paper towels to drain.

Step 6

Whisk the flour, cornstarch, cayenne, paprika, pepper, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Step 7

Remove 1.5 of a cup of the flour mixture and add it to a casserole dish and set this flour & dish aside.

Step 8

Go back to the flour mixture that remains in the bowl and add baking powder. Whisk to combine.

Step 9

Add 1.5 cups beer to the flour mixture in mixing bowl and stir until mixture is just combined (batter will be lumpy). Add remaining beer as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition, until batter falls from whisk in thin, steady stream and leaves faint trail across surface of batter.

Step 10

With the fries done, increase the heat of the oil to medium-high, add remaining quart of oil if necessary and heat oil to 375°F. Meanwhile, thoroughly dry fish with paper towels. Dredge each piece of fish in the flour mixture shaking off excess flour. Dip 1 piece of fish in batter at a time and let excess run off, shaking gently. Place battered fish back into the dish with the flour mixture and turn to coat both sides. (This is messy, but worth it!)

Step 11

If you are working with a partner in the kitchen you can now add each piece directly to hot oil if or, if you choose, keep pieces in single layer on baking sheet and repeat until all pieces are coated. (It’s best if you have one person frying and another dredging. However, you can do certainly do it in batches if working alone, just be careful not to let it sit too long to avoid the batter sticking to the sheet pan)

Step 12

Tip: As you add the fish, you will ikely need to adjust the heat to keep it maintained at 375-385°F. Not adjusting your temperature to maintain oil temperature when frying is a common, and costly, mistake. The fish will not crisp up. But make it too high, and everything will burn. Use an oil safe thermometer for best results.

Step 13

Fry the fish, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes depending on thickness. Use a kitchen spider to remove fish from hot oil and transfer fish to a sheet pan lined with a gridded cooling rack.

Step 14

Tip: If you are unsure about the doneness, remove one piece of fish and use an instant read thermometer to test for a minimum of 145° F.

Step 15

Add the previously fried potatoes back to the hot oil for about 2 minutes to crisp up. Remove to fresh paper towel or directly to a cooking rack. Immediately sprinkle with sea salt or kosher salt.

Step 16

Serve fish & chips with traditional malt vinegar and tartar sauce.