Sandy’s Fish and Chips
This is the recipe I ‘adapted’ and simplified many times, many times loved by adults and kids (ketchup instead of tartar sauce. While a transplant to New England from the Midwest, an all-time favorite dinner in our family is a variation on a Fish and Chips recipe. Traditionally made with cod, we also loved making it with trout. We usually served it with a green salad or slaw.
Ingredients:
Tartar Sauce
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon chopped capers
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, more to taste (optional)
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• Pinch fine sea salt
• Black pepper, as needed
Ingredients:
Fish and chips
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
• 1 1/3 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced thyme
• 1 large garlic clove, grated on a microplane or minced
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, more as needed
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 pounds skinless hake, cod or other white fish fillets, cut into 1-inch-thick strips*
*Our family family favorite was with trout filets
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, more as needed
• 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes (about 3 large), cut into 1/4-inch-thick sticks
*I used sweet potatoes as well
Instructions:
Make the horseradish tartar sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. ***Often times we just used ketchup instead!
Prepare the potatoes and the fish and chips: Arrange 2 oven racks in the top and bottom third of the oven. Place a large-rimmed baking sheet on the lower rack and heat oven to 500 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in panko, thyme, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until crumbs are evenly dark golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer immediately to a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together mustard and eggs. Place flour in a third bowl. Grease an oven-safe wire rack with oil and place it over another rimmed baking sheet. Season fish with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Dredge each piece of fish in the flour, then mustard mixture, then panko mixture, making sure it is well coated with each one before moving to the next. Transfer fish to the wire rack. (You can bread the fish up to 4 hours ahead; store in the refrigerator, uncovered, either on the rack or just on a plate). In a large bowl, toss together potatoes, the remaining 4 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Carefully spread potatoes out on the preheated baking sheet and return to oven’s lower rack. Roast until slightly golden and crispy, tossing after 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees and transfer the second pan, with the fish still on the wire rack, to oven’s top rack. Bake until fish is flaky and golden and potatoes are well browned and tender, about 10 to 15 minutes more. Salt fish and potatoes immediately after removing from oven. Serve hot, with tartar sauce alongside for dipping.
