Gluten-free Battered Fish and onion rings

There are a few fish and chip shops around that do gluten free food, but often it is only for two hours when they first change their fat once a month or some such.  As the oil contains gluten from the batter it isn't safe to eat just the chips either. We did find a fish and chip shop in Newquay a couple of years ago that has a dedicated fryer and a big sign in the window - we had been looking for Fifteen, Jamie Oliver's place, couldn't find it, so stopped at this place instead of going home without food.  I couldn't spot it in a quick google search, so if anyone has a link to this pioneering fish and chip shop please let me know.

While I had the fryer full of fat it seemed sensible to try a battered fish.  It was remarkably simple  and as good as anything you would get from most chippies, according to TT who still buys these, particularly after a hard days manual labouring and on motorway service stations.  It is very unusual to get food poisoning for deep fried foods, so if in doubt at food places that is what to go for.

I read several fried fish recipes, and a review of different batter ingredients (very interesting - rates different wheat flours and buckwheat)

Heat your oil in the fryer to 170C

Battered fish

http://www.fishbatter.co.uk/

·      Fish

·      75g flour (40% urid, 40% tapioca, 20% cornmeal)

·      1 tsp baking power

·      100 ml soda water
A tsp sugar or pinch turmeric can be added if you want a deeper coloured batter.

In a large bowl, whisk or sieve dry ingredients, stir in soda water (take care – froths).  It will be a thick gloopy batter.  Leave to sit for a few minutes for the flours to absorb the liquid.

Flour fish.  This is Vietnamese River Cobbler.

Dip fish in batter and fry until golden and fish cooked  (about six minutes at 170C)

If you like a thicker batter there are two things you can do.  Add more flour to the initial batter, or drizzle extra batter onto the fish while it is cooking. If you get a bare patch add some fresh batter and carry on cooking.

I bought the Coop own brand of soda water - it was only abut 50p.

Slip a few onion rings in the leftover batter and add to the fryer –instant succulent crispy onion rings.