Crispy Fish Batter 

Golden, crunchy, and deceptively simple—this Crispy Fish Batter turns ordinary fish fillets into a seaside escape right in your kitchen. With just five pantry ingredients—flour, milk, water, baking powder, and salt—plus an optional dash of cornstarch for extra crispiness, this batter strikes the perfect balance between light airiness and satisfying crunch. Ideal for weeknight dinners, it's forgiving enough that you can eyeball measurements, yet impressive enough to evoke that nostalgic boardwalk fry. Quick to whip up and quicker to disappear off the plate, you'll want to keep this in your frying arsenal forever. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
  
  

• ½ cup milk
  
  

• ½ cup water
  
  

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  
  

• 1 teaspoon salt
  
  

• Optional for extra crunch: 1–2 tablespoons cornstarch
  
  

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
   
   

2. Stir in milk and water until you have a smooth, pancake-like batter that thickly coats a spoon.
   
   

3. Dry fish fillets thoroughly with paper towels, then dip each into the batter, letting excess drip off.
   
   

4. Heat oil to around 365 °F (test with a breadcrumb—it should brown in 30 seconds). Fry fish for about 2 minutes per side—or until crispy and golden.
   
   

5. Drain fish on paper towels or a wire rack. Serve immediately with your favorite dips. To keep batches crispy, use a rack in a low oven (about 200 °F) while finishing frying. 

Nutrients (per serving, approximate)
 

• Calories: ~180 kcal
  
  

• Carbohydrates: ~30 g
  
  

• Protein: ~5 g
  
  

• Fat: ~1 g
  
  

• Sodium: ~300 mg