Need a basic batter mix for deep frying? If you’ve been deep frying food for any length of time, especially chicken, you know that it’s all in the batter. However, a quick Internet search reveals hundreds of different batters to choose from so how do you know what is right for you?
9 times out of 10, a basic batter recipe will work great. It’s true that there are many batters customized for certain foods, such as fish and vegetables, but you would be surprised how tasty a basic recipe can be.
Basic Batter Recipe for Deep Frying
You can use the recipe below for shrimp, chicken, fish, zucchini spears, mushrooms, onion rings and virtually any other type of food that you can think of.
It is thin and light, so you’ll have no problem actually tasting the food that you use the batter on. Although it might not seem like the recipe will make a lot of batter, the finished product is very thin, so it will cover plenty of food.
You’ll need:
INGREDIENTS
1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 cup water
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
How to Make It
You’ll want to start by combining the salt, baking powder, cornstarch and flour inside of a mixing bowl. Grab a second mixing bowl and combine 1 tablespoon of water, 1 tablespoon of beaten egg and ½ a cup of water.
Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix them well. Next, follow whatever instructions your deep fryer provides for frying meat or vegetables. Understand that this batter recipe is very thing but tastes fantastic.
Some Other, More Specific Batters
A simple flour and water batter can work well. It’s the simplest and consists of beating 1 cup of flour and a half teaspoon of salt into roughly 2 cups of water. You’ll want to set it aside about 30 minutes before you use it.
Baking Powder Batter
If you want a crunchy crust, you’ll need baking powder. However, you’ll want to make sure that you use this batter right after you make it. To make it, stir 3.4th a cup of flour, ½ teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons of baking powder in a large bowl. Just whisk in 1 cup of water and mix until it’s smooth. Make sure to use it immediately after you mix it.
Beer Batter
Who doesn’t like a tasty beer batter? It offers great flavor and crunch. You’ll need a bottle of your favorite lager or ale. This batter is perfect for fish and chips.
If you don’t want the alcohol, you can make a non-alcoholic version with mineral water and club soda. To make this batter, add ½ a teaspoon of salt and ¾ a cup of flour into a large bowl. Very gently whisk in a single cup of beer until everything is smooth. Make sure to use it immediately.
Yeast Batter
With this batter, you can accomplish a bread-like, complex flavor, complete with a crunchy, thick crust. You’ll need to stir 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast into 3/4th a cup of warm water.
Set this aside for about 10 minutes. Next, stir in ½ a cup of flour until everything is smooth. Cover it with plastic wrap and set it aside to allow time for rising. The batter should be ready for use within an hour. The batter should be roughly double the size that it was when you first set it aside.
