How to Make Batter
In order to make batter, you require specific amounts of flour, liquid, fat, eggs, salt, sugar (optional) and a leavening agent. You can use baking powder or yeast extract as a leavening substance. In addition to the main ingredients of batter, flavoring agents are added as per the demand of the recipe. Making batter for deep-fried appetizer recipes seems so easy to all of us. But, what we are not aware is that this coating can make a plain dish into a wonderful treat. Speaking in simple terms, a well-prepared batter is the key base to a lip-smacking fried vegetable, chip, fish or chicken. Here, we will discuss some of the simple methods on how to make batter, which you can definitely try at home.
Making Batter for Deep-frying?
Battered cauliflower, jalapeno or potato tastes delicious; crispy batter on the outside with a soft and tender vegetable inside. If you love to have battered vegetables, then consider making the following batter recipe:
Ingredients
- cup all-purpose flour
- cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon non-fat dry milk
- cup cold water
- teaspoon baking powder
- teaspoon monosodium glutamate
- teaspoon turmeric
- teaspoon salt
In a blender, add flour, cornstarch, dry milk, water, baking powder, monosodium glutamate, turmeric and salt. Blend this mixture. Remove the batter in a bowl and if necessary, scrape the sides of the blender with a rubber scraper. Prepare the vegetable pieces, which you want to fry. Roll them properly in cornstarch. You can remove excess cornstarch by shaking the pieces in a colander. One at a time, dip the cornstarch coated food piece in batter and fry them in heated fat. Cook until the surface is crispy and serve hot with tomato sauce.
Making Batter for Fish Fry?
You can make different fish batter recipes depending upon, whether you are sauteing them or preparing in gravy form. The following is a batter recipe for frying the fish fillets (about 2 pounds):
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- cup cornstarch
- cup light beer (or water)
- cup water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine together all the ingredients - flour, cornstarch, beer, water, vegetable oil, baking powder, pepper, brown sugar and salt. Mix well the mixture with your hands and ensure that there are no lumps in the batter. Now, your batter part is ready. Work on the fish fillets, clean them first and wipe them dry with a tissue paper. Dip the fillets in the batter and fry them in hot oil, till the batter turns golden color. Place the cooked fish in tissue to drain excess oil and serve.
Making Batter for a Chicken Recipe?
Fried chicken remains an all time favorite for people who love to have chicken. First learn how to make batter in order to cook mouth-watering deep-fried chicken recipes. The following is a batter recipe for chicken:
Ingredients for Seasoned Flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- teaspoon poultry seasoning
- cup all-purpose flour
- 1 beaten egg yolk
- cup water
- teaspoon pepper
- teaspoon salt
In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients to make seasoned flour and keep it aside. Then, for preparing chicken batter, mix flour, pepper and salt in another bowl. Take a bowl and mix egg yolk and water. Add this liquid concoction to the batter flour mixture. Whisk the mixture to make a consistently thick batter without any lumps. Once you are done with this, roll the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour, dip in batter and again roll in seasoned flour. Fry the battered chicken till it turns brown or crisp. Drain the cooked chicken in tissue towel and serve.
These were some of the methods to make batter for different recipes. Try out these batter recipes to impart a special taste to the way vegetable, fish and chicken dishes are cooked. You can alter the flavor by adding different culinary spices and herbs in the batter ingredients. The batter will bring out that delightful crispiness when you bite the fried foods.
