Twice Cooked Chips Recipes

THE BEST CHIPS YOU HAVE EVER TASTED

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut lengthways into roughly 1cm/½in slices. Cut each slice into fairly thick chips and rinse in a colander under plenty of cold water to remove excess starch. (If you have time, it's worth letting the chips soak in a bowl of cold water for several hours, or overnight.) Pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Heat a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan half-full of the sunflower oil to 130C. It's important to use a cooking thermometer and check the temperature regularly. Alternatively, use an electric deep-fat fryer heated to 130C. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)
• Using a large, metal, slotted spoon, gently lower half the chips into the hot oil and stir carefully. Fry for ten minutes, or until cooked through but not browned.
• Remove the chips from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on plenty of kitchen paper. Repeat the process with the remaining chips. (The chips can be left for several hours at this stage.)
• When ready to serve, reheat the oil to 190C. With a slotted spoon, lower all the par-cooked chips gently into the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
• Tip into a serving dish and sprinkle with salt and vinegar to serve.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• For the twice-cooked chips: Peel the potatoes and cut them into approximately 5/8-inch-thick chips (i.e. 5/8-by-5/8-inch-by-potato length). Store them in water.
• Fill a large pot halfway with the oil or fill a deep-fat fryer with oil. Heat to 275 degrees F. Thoroughly drain the chips and add them to the oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the chips until they are soft enough to squeeze but not yet browned, about 10 minutes. Once all the chips have been blanched, spread them on a sheet tray and store them in the fridge overnight.
• When ready to serve, heat the oil to 375 degrees F and fry the blanched chips, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and still fluffy on the inside, about 5 minutes.
• For the seasoned flour: Mix the flour, salt and black pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
• For the beer batter: Thoroughly mix the flour, paprika and salt in a large bowl. Whilst constantly whisking, add enough beer to stiffen up the mix. Whilst still continuing to whisk, add cold water until the batter resembles heavy cream consistency and contains no lumps.
• For the fish: Fill a large pot halfway with oil or fill a deep-fat fryer with oil. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Fillet the fish into six 8-ounce portions, removing any bones, skin or blood lines that are present. Dip the fish into the seasoned flour, tapping off any excess. Dip the fish into the beer batter, briefly allow the batter to drain off, and then gently place the fish into the oil, allowing the fish to float away from you. Cook, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and trying to float, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the oil with a spatula and allow to drain on a cooling rack before serving on a bed of chips with lashings of kosher salt and malt vinegar.

TRIPLE-COOKED CHIPS

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into thick chips about 6cm/2½in long and 1.5cm/⅝in thick. Rinse them in cold water to remove as much starch as possible, then put them in a large saucepan - make sure the chips have plenty of room so you can take them out easily.
• Cover the chips with lots of cold water (as much as you can get in the pan without it boiling over) and slowly bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are knife tender and lines and cracks start to develop. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the chips from the saucepan - don't tip them into a colander, or they will fall apart. Drain on kitchen paper and gently pat dry.
• Half-fill a deep-fat fryer or a large saucepan with oil and heat it to 130C. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Fry the chips in a couple of batches, until they have developed a crust but not taken on any colour - this will take about 5 minutes. Remove each batch when it's ready and set aside.
• Now heat the oil to 180C. Return the chips to the pan, again in a couple of batches, and fry for 1-2 minutes until they are very crisp and deep golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.

OVEN-ROASTED CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Peel the potatoes and cut them into long chip shapes - the thickness is entirely up to you, though the width of a finger is ideal. Rinse under the cold tap and pat dry with a tea towel.
• Spread the chips on a large non-stick baking tray and toss with the olive oil and celery salt. Lie them flat in a single layer - use two trays rather than overcrowd one.
• Roast for 45-50 mins, turning now and then. When cooked they should be golden brown and crisp with a light fluffy centre. Scatter on sea salt to serve.