Mock Fried Fish Recipes

FRIED FISH WITH DILL TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• For the dill tartar sauce: Mix the mayonnaise, pickles, capers, lemon juice, dill and sugar in a bowl. Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.
• For the fried fish: Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in a deep skillet (I use cast iron) on medium heat until the oil reaches about 375 degrees F.
• Clean the fish with cold water and dry just a tad; the fish should be a little wet to help the cornmeal mixture stick to it. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on the fish. Add the cornmeal and flour to a paper bag. Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning. Add the fish to the flour mixture and coat each piece evenly. Transfer the breaded fish to a plate or cutting board.
• Lay the fish into the oil in batches and fry until they start to float and are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Rest them on a rack to let the extra oil run off. Squeeze a little lemon juice on top. Serve with the tartar sauce.

LONG JOHN SILVER'S BATTERED FISH (COPYCAT)

Steps:

• NOTE: IF USING SELF-RISING FLOUR -- REDUCE SEA SALT TO 1 1/2 TEASPOONS THEN OMIT BAKING POWDER AND BAKING SODA -- AND USE REGULAR WATER INSTEAD OF CLUB SODA. FOR EASY GRINDING OF FENNEL SEED, PULSE A CLEAN SPICE MILL OR COFFEE GRINDER WITH THE CORNSTARCH AND SEA SALT UNTIL FINELY GROUND, THEN ADD TO DRY BATTER.
• THAW fresh boneless white fish if frozen; CUT filets into 3-inch x 4 inch pieces; PREPARE a light sea salt/water bath to brine fish in for 20 minutes (brine should only be "as salty as the ocean").
• POUR enough canola oil in deep-fryer to completely immerse fish in; INSERT the deep-fryer basket; PREHEAT oil slowly in gradual increments to 360°F.
• MEASURE all DRY BATTER AND DREDGING ingredients into a large bowl; WHISK mixture well until thoroughly blended; REMOVE 2 cups of mixture and transfer to another large bowl for the BATTER.
• INTO the large bowl containing the 2 cups reserved DRY BATTER, whisk in the LIQUID BATTER ingredients, without over-mixing.
• REMOVE fish from sea salt bath; BLOT fish lightly; COAT the fish very lightly on all sides with the reserved dry dredging, being careful not to tear or break fish (use a flat metal spatula to turn fish if necessary).
• DIP dredged fish in prepared batter to coat fish evenly, using a flat spatula to lift; ALLOW excess batter to drain; DROP battered fish slowly and carefully into the preheated fryer (MAKE SURE FISH DOESN'T SINK AND STICK TO BOTTOM OF FRYER BASKET; IF THIS HAPPENS, LIFT BASKET AND CAREFULLY LOOSEN FISH WITH A FLAT STAINLESS STEEL SPATULA).
• DEEP-FRY fish in preheated 360°F canola oil without overcrowding until breading is golden, and fish is tender-flaky; PLACE cooked fish on absorbent paper to drain (keep filets warmed if necessary, in a preheated 170 F oven); REPEAT frying process with remaining fish.
• ALLOW hot fried fish to cool slightly before serving; SERVE with fresh lemon slices and desired condiments -- tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, cream horseradish, hot sauce, malt vinegar.
• SERVE and enjoy!

MOCK GEFILTE FISH

Steps:

• Bring water and stock ingredients to a boil and simmer for half an hour.
• Meanwhile, grate onion and carrots, and mix with the chicken, eggs, and reserved stock. Add the matzo meal or bread crumbs and season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Form into medium-sized balls.
• Bring stock to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and add meat balls and parsley. Cover partially. Simmer for 2 hours.
• Place meat balls in a casserole dish. Reduce the stock to about half, strain, and pour over the meat balls. Top with cooked carrot slices.
• Cool thoroughly in the refrigerator.
• Serve with horseradish sauce.