Description
Crispy golden Long John Silver’s batter creates seafood magic with its light, crunchy exterior. Home cooks can easily recreate this classic restaurant-style coating that delivers perfect texture and flavor for fish and seafood lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (60 g) cornstarch
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (240 ml) cold sparkling water or cold water
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) black pepper
Fat:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
Instructions
- Combine all dry ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel, whisking thoroughly to distribute cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and black pepper evenly throughout the flour.
- In a separate container, vigorously blend the egg with chilled sparkling water and vegetable oil until smooth and integrated.
- Gently cascade wet mixture into dry ingredients, stirring minimally to create a slightly lumpy consistency that will ensure a light, crisp coating.
- Allow batter to relax and develop texture for 10-15 minutes at room temperature, which enhances crispiness during frying.
- Preheat cooking oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed skillet to precisely 375°F, utilizing a reliable kitchen thermometer for accuracy.
- Submerge protein or vegetables into batter, ensuring excess drips off, then carefully lower into sizzling oil, maintaining consistent temperature.
- Fry each item until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior, approximately 3-4 minutes per side, rotating once to guarantee even cooking.
- Transfer fried items onto absorbent paper towels to eliminate excess oil, then serve immediately while maintaining maximum crispness and temperature.
Notes
- Ensure sparkling water is ice-cold to create the crispiest, lightest batter possible for maximum crunch and texture.
- For gluten-free diets, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to maintain similar consistency and flavor.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough, dense coating; lumpy batter creates a lighter, crispier exterior when fried.
- Use a thermometer to maintain consistent oil temperature, preventing soggy or greasy results and ensuring perfectly golden-brown coating.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 154 kcal
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 456 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg