Description
Recreate the iconic crispy, golden fried fish from Long John Silver’s at home with this easy batter recipe using simple pantry ingredients like cornstarch and ice-cold water for a shatteringly crisp texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (60g) cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup (240ml) ice-cold water
- 1 large egg white
- 1.5 pounds cod or haddock fillets
- Vegetable or Canola oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Rinse fish fillets under cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels. Cut into strips or bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, and baking powder until no clumps remain.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk ice-cold water and egg white until just combined.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. The batter should be the consistency of heavy cream.
- Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F (190°C).
- Dip fish pieces into the batter, letting excess drip off, then gently lower into the hot oil. Fry in small batches (2-3 pieces) to maintain oil temperature.
- Fry for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway, until deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Remove fish with a slotted spoon or tongs and place on a wire rack to drain. Sprinkle with extra seasoned salt while hot and serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure fish is completely dry before battering to prevent slipping. Keep water ice-cold to ensure crispiness. Do not overcrowd the pan to maintain oil temperature. If batter separates, stir gently. Reheat leftovers in an oven or air fryer to maintain crispness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 3-4 pieces o
- Calories: 275
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 20
Keywords: Long John Silver copycat, fried fish recipe, crispy fish batter, cod recipe, haddock recipe, seafood dinner, easy fried fish, homemade fish sticks