Beer batter for fish

[NorthernWiner]

A quick non-winemaking question...

I'm frying up a mess of smelt tonight and want to make a beer batter. In the fridge I have dark ale and pilsner. Which would be better in the batter?

[lockwood1956]

I would think....the pilsner (being lighter) might be better?

[NorthernWiner]

That's what I would've thought as well. But upon researching recipes, I'm finding quite a few that call for dark beers, or even stout.

Can you tell I don't fry a lot of fish?

[kampervan]

its the co2 that makes good batter so pilsner. as would make lighter batter

[NorthernWiner]

Cheers guys. Pilsner it is.

[NorthernWiner]

It came out fabulous. One piece of advice I came across on the internet was to let the batter "rest" for about an hour at room temperature under cellophane cling wrap. So I did. When I removed the wrap, the batter had a nice yeasty bread odor, and bubbles. Obviously the bubbles lightened up the crust.

I couldn't find the thermometer, so it took a few trials to get the temperature to the point where it wasn't cooking too fast or slow.

But other than a little too much salt (my mistake), it was very good.

[NorthernWiner]

Good tip - thanks.

[wisp]

fantastic tip

[spritzer]

Glad it worked out Steve... I would have said the pilsner too
If you had any left over batter, you could have tried the Scottish delicacy (on Burns night too !!) of deep fried Mars bar

[NorthernWiner]

Eek!

I think that's one delicacy I'd best avoid. I can feel my arteries constricting at the mere mention of it.

[wisp]

I don't blame you NW. I don't think I'd dare look at one never mind eat one . I have friends, however, who have eaten them [deep fried Mars Bars] and think that they are delicious and swear by them.

I think you and Bob should produce a deep fried Mars Bar wine . What do you think?

[NorthernWiner]

I have no doubt that a fried candy bar is delicious. We actually do our own version, except it's made using a "Snickers" bar, which I'm guessing is more common in the US. I don't eat those either, though.

Fried candy sounds far more delicious than another local Minnesota delicacy: lutefisk, which is a horrid, preserved fish.

Yes, we have a large population of descendants of Scandinavian heritage and, from what I understand, we consume more lutefisk per capita than native Scandinavians.

If you're unfamiliar with it, here is the lowdown:

http://www.davethefox.com/words/0112lutefisk.htm

Lutefisk wine perhaps? Double eek.

As far as Scottish delicacies go, I do like Scotch eggs, and even Haggis.

[NorthernWiner]

Hmm... I guess Scotch Eggs are not really "Scotch," but rather an English invention. No matter. They are still tasty. Especially slathered with some good mustard.

By the way, I found a funny video that explains Scotch Eggs...

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/Scotch+Egg/

[lockwood1956]

or with your good mustard!, how about Gala Pie, a long pork pie with eggs down the center

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[wisp]

I'll have a slice of that pie OB With whole grain mustard please