You can make your own battered fish at home more easily than you might think. Gluten-free fish batter makes fish that is crispy, golden, and tastes great. Use the same recipe for onion rings or shrimp!.
“Made this last week and its off the charts. Family says it was 1 of the best battered fish they ever had. Thanks for sharing. “.
Use tongs to dip each flour-coated piece into the batter, making sure both sides are covered.
Carefully slip each battered piece into 375°F (190°C) oil. Cook for a few minutes on each side.
When you cook the rest of the fish, put the fish on a tray lined with paper towels and put it in a 250°F (121°C) oven for up to 20 minutes. The fish tastes best when eaten right away.
There should be a lot of saturated fat in the oil we choose for deep frying, and it should also be stable at high temperatures. We should stay away from oils that have a lot of polyunsaturated fats because high heat can change them into compounds that are bad for us. Coconut oil is a good one, but will affect the flavour of whatever you are cooking. Lard, ghee, and avocado oil are also good oils to use for home cooking.
You can cook this fish in an air fryer with some degree of success. Your battered fish will still taste good, but the crust won’t be as shiny and golden like when you deep fry it. I tested this recipe in an air fryer for myself after a reader asked if it would work. It’s too wet for a basket, so I cooked it on a pan with parchment paper on the bottom. The first thing I did was spray oil on the parchment paper. I wanted it to have a little of the shiny, crispy look that comes from deep-frying. Then I sprayed some oil on top of the fish after putting it on the pan that had been lined with foil. Then, I cooked it in the air fryer for about 4 minutes at 475 degrees F. At this point, the fish needs to be turned over and baked for up to 4-5 minutes longer. It might be less, depending on the thickness of the fish and the air fryer you are using. When you flip it over, you can judge how much longer you think it needs.
Yes, beer battered fish usually has gluten, for two reasons. First of all, regular beer has gluten in it. Secondly, anything fried in the same oil as glutenous foods will have become contaminated with gluten. Fryers are often used to fry things that have been breaded in wheat flour. So, if you cook french fries or anything else in a gluten-free batter in that oil, it will no longer be gluten-free. Either gluten-free beer or club soda can be used to make the batter for fish that has been fried. The fish must also be cooked in separate, clean oil.
Instead of making your own gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, you can buy one that is already made. Better Batter Original Blend is the most like mine and should work in this recipe.
You dont really need much fancy equipment for this recipe. The most important things are a pot big enough to hold two pieces of fish at once, tongs, and a thermometer.
I use a deep, 8″ (20 cm) diameter pot. It’s big enough to hold the fish but not too big that the oil doesn’t go below ½” (1 cm).
To keep your hands from getting too close to hot oil, you should use tongs with long handles.
A thermometer tells you when your oil is at the right temperature for deep frying. If its too hot, your food will burn on the outside before it gets cooked on the inside. If it isnt hot enough, the food will take too long to cook and absorb too much oil.
If you have any leftover battered and cooked fish, put it in a container lined with paper towels and seal it up. Put it in the fridge for two to three days.
To reheat leftovers, preheat the oven with an empty baking pan in it to 450°F (232°C). Place cold, cooked, battered fish on the hot pan and cook for about 12 minutes. It should be heated right through and the crust crisped up again.
It’s important to be careful when cooking with hot oil because it will sizzle and splash when you put the fish in it. Stand back and slip each piece in gently, with long-handled tongs.
Fried fish is a delicious, crispy treat that many people love However, for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, enjoying battered and fried fish may seem off limits The good news is that with a few adjustments, gluten free fried fish can be on the menu!
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about making fried fish gluten free. We’ll share tips on choosing the right fish, making a gluten free batter, frying properly, and even how to turn it into delicious gluten free fish and chips! Let’s dive in.
Can You Eat Fried Fish If You Are Gluten Free?
The first question many people have is simply – can I eat fried fish if I follow a gluten free diet? The short answer is yes, you can enjoy gluten free battered fish, as long as a few important steps are taken:
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Use a gluten free flour blend for the fish batter recipe Some gluten free all purpose flour blends work better than others, which we’ll explain more below
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Frying the battered fish in fresh oil that hasn’t been contaminated with gluten Many restaurants use the same fryer for breaded, gluten containing foods. So best to make your own at home.
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If making gluten free fish and chips, use certified gluten free fries or prepare your own baked potato wedges.
As long as you avoid these common pitfalls, you can definitely indulge in crispy fried fish while maintaining your gluten free lifestyle. But there are some best practices that will take your gluten free fish fry from good to great!
Tips for the Best Gluten Free Fried Fish
A perfectly cooked piece of fried fish should be golden brown, ultra crispy on the outside, yet moist and flaky on the inside. Here are some tips for fried fish success, even when using a gluten free batter recipe.
Choose the Right Fish for Frying
Sturdy white fish with a delicate flavor that flakes nicely when cooked make the best options for gluten free battered fish. Good choices include:
- Cod
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Pollock
- Flounder
- Sole
- Tilapia
Lean fish hold up better to frying than fattier options like salmon or catfish. For best results, choose fresh fish over frozen. Fresh fish has less moisture, which helps the gluten free breading adhere better during cooking.
If you do use frozen fish, thaw overnight in the fridge and pat dry extremely well before coating in batter.
Opt for a Light, Crispy Gluten Free Batter
The batter coating is essential for adding crunch and flavor to fried fish. But batters containing gluten free flour can often fry up dense and bready.
To make a crispy gluten free fish batter:
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Use a blend that doesn’t contain cornstarch as a main ingredient, like Cup4Cup or King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten free flour.
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Combine the gluten free flour with rice flour, which fries up lighter than all purpose flour.
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Add club soda or gluten free beer for carbonation, which aerates the batter for a delicate texture.
This combination ensures a thin, crunchy batter that compliments the fish instead of overpowering it.
Maintain Proper Oil Temperature
Achieving the ideal crisp, golden finish without a greasy coating relies heavily on frying at the right temperature. Heat the oil to 350-375°F. If too low, the coating absorbs more oil and gets soggy. If too high, the batter browns too quickly before the fish cooks through.
Use a thermometer and adjust the heat as needed to maintain the ideal range. Only fry a few pieces at a time so the oil temp doesn’t drop drastically when adding more cold food.
Make Gluten Free Fish and Chips
What better to serve alongside gluten free battered fish than crispy fries? To make fish and chips gluten free:
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Cut potatoes into fries, soak in cold water for 30 minutes, then pat very dry. Fry at 325°F until tender inside and starting to brown. Finish at 375°F until golden.
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Or bake thick potato wedges tossed in oil and seasonings at 425°F, flipping halfway through, for easy gluten free oven fries.
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You can also use store-bought fries as long as they are certified gluten free. Check brands like Alexia, Ore-Ida, and Idahoan.
With these simple tricks, you can feel confident frying up flavorful, gluten free fish for the whole family to enjoy. Dip it in tangy tartar sauce or malt vinegar for the full fish and chips experience.
Gluten Free Beer Batter vs. Soda Water
When it comes to making the lightest, crispiest batter coating, the liquid ingredients used are very important. Two options provide bubbles that keep the batter airy when fried:
Gluten Free Beer – Carbonation aerates the batter and the alcohol helps it crisp up faster with less oil absorption.
Club Soda – Also provides bubbles for a fluffy texture and is the more affordable, accessible option.
Gluten free beer, if you have it on hand, does enhance the flavor and crunch slightly. But according to many homemade recipes, using soda water produces nearly identical results at a fraction of the cost.
If enjoying the occasional gluten free brew is important to you, by all means use it to make your fish fry extra tasty. But don’t avoid making this recipe if you only have club soda, thinking it won’t turn out well. Just be sure to use soda water, not plain tap water, for the carbonation factor.
How Long Does Fried Fish Last? Storage and Reheating Tips
Leftover fried fish keeps well in the fridge but the coating will soften. To restore the crispy texture there are a couple good reheating methods:
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Air Fryer – Cook at 400°F for 4-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. The circulating hot air recrisps the batter nicely.
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Oven – Place fish on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until heated through and crisp.
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Stovetop – Pan fry in a little oil over medium-high heat until warmed through and golden brown on both sides.
Properly stored fried fish lasts 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Reheated leftover fish should be consumed within another 1-2 days.
Fried Fish Cooking Time
The thickness of the fish fillets will determine how long they need to fry for the center to cook through. For best results, aim for:
- Thin fillets, 1⁄4 – 1⁄2 inch thick – 2-3 minutes per side
- Thicker fillets, up to 1 inch – 4-5 minutes per side
- Whole fish or extra thick steaks – 6-8 minutes per side
Fry just a few pieces at a time so the oil maintains the proper temperature. Flip the fish halfway through with tongs to evenly brown and cook both sides. Check that fish flakes easily with a fork and registers 140°F internally before removing from oil.
Gluten Free Fried Fish Recipes
If you’re ready to make your own gluten free fish fry at home, these batter recipes result in deliciously crispy, flavorful fried fish:
Easy Gluten Free Fish Batter
This simple no-fail recipe uses a blend of gluten free flour and rice flour for a coating that’s light as air. Fish fillets are dipped in bubbly club soda batter and fried to golden perfection.
Gluten Free Beer Battered Fish
For those who can enjoy gluten free brews, this batter uses beer for enhanced flavor and crunch. Cod or haddock are dredged in the fizzy batter and fried for amazing fish and chips.
Air Fryer Gluten Free Fish
You can skip the stovetop oil and make this tasty “fried” fish in the air fryer! Almond flour gives the coating extra crunch. Serve with baked fries for a healthy, gluten free fish dinner.
Cornmeal Crusted Fried Catfish
Hearty catfish stands up well to frying. A cornmeal and Cajun spice coating provides down home Southern flavor. Blackened fish tacos anyone?
So go ahead and enjoy your favorite fried fish recipes again, even with gluten free diet limitations. With a few simple tweaks, you can savor golden fried fish that’s safe to eat and delicious too. Dip that crispy fish in some tartar sauce and take a bite – gluten free living never tasted so good!
Frequently Asked Questions About Gluten Free Fried Fish
Is fish fried in vegetable oil gluten free?
Fish fried in pure vegetable oil can be gluten free. However, many restaurants use the same fryer for breaded, gluten containing menu items. Frying in fresh, uncontaminated oil at home is the best way to guarantee gluten free fish.
What flours make good gluten free batter?
A blend of gluten free all purpose flour and rice flour makes
What to Serve with Battered Fish
