Cooking Lesson #771: Air Fryer London-Style Fish

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? We had kind of a foodie block party last weekend where most of the people attending receive our Survival Guide. I was asked why I don’t do any recipes using Air Fryers. Here was my excuse—years back, as they were first coming on the market, we had several air fryers in our test kitchens. Some worked better than others, but honestly, I personally lost interest in them. They were just another kitchen appliance that took up counter space. We have professional restaurant convection ovens in the test kitchen that created pretty much the same recipes that we could make in a home air fryer.
 
For this blog I decided to give it a second look at what was once a novelty. Fred van de Wiel, an inventor in the Netherlands, is credited with starting work on the modern-day air fryer in 2005 when he was looking for a healthier way to prepare leftovers or frozen French fries without drying them out.
 
I read some sales data that claimed that the gadget is in nearly two-thirds of U.S. homes—a claim that I find hard to believe. Nevertheless, air fryers have forced manufacturers to play catch-up and introduce compatible food products to the marketplace.
 
We have been using heat susceptors for half a century. Hot Pocket has been synonymous with the metallic crisping sleeve used to heat the cheese, meat and vegetable-filled turnover in a microwave. But the rapid growth in popularity of the air fryer has changed how many consumers warm the popular snack, leading brand owner Nestlé to ditch the sleeve altogether. These heat susceptors have all been used in microwave popcorn to get that burst of heat centered on the oil and popping corn in the bottom of the bag.
 
Nestle claims that once you cook Hot Pockets in the air fryer, you’ll never go back. Some people claim it’s just much better and crispier. Some food processors see the future is all about the air fryer. Is it just a generational shift or is this just another kitchen appliance that will go the way of the dodo, nesting in the deep dark corner underneath the counter?
 
The air fryer has rapidly become a force in the food industry, upending which products consumers buy and how they prepare them.
 
Two years ago, it was claimed that the air fryer became the fourth most popular cooking device behind the stove top, microwave and oven, and that many more people have an air fryer today in their kitchen than a coffee maker—another claim that falls faint on my ears.
 
Regardless of how I feel, Nestlé, Conagra Brands, Campbell Soup and Perdue Farms are developing an array of products just for an air fryer. An even larger number of products in stores now contain instructions on preparing them in an air fryer. In some packages, air fryer instructions are included along with microwave and/or oven instructions. Is the future of cooking going to be all about air fryer? I don’t think so.
 
Home meal providers are still using the microwave with greater frequency, but the highest level of air fryer use is among teens and college kids. Many university students have the device in their dorm rooms (against cooking in dorm rooms policies) instead of a microwave.
 
Most new products created for air fryers are sold in the frozen section of supermarkets. What can I cook from scratch that will give me a better product than any frozen boxed product?
 
So, I borrowed a neighbor’s air fryer to do some testing. My chicken wing recipes cooked in a conventional oven are certainly as good as Buffalo Wild Wings. My home made pizzas can hardly be improved upon in an air fryer except warming up day old pizza. I decided to take some baby steps with Air Fryer Fish. I will get more adventuresome in future blogs.
 
I love the classic beer-battered London-style Fish & Chips. For this blog I created a quick and easy way to make crispy fried fish and it turned out to be extra-crispy, flaky and oh so tender using with less oil and with less effort.  A perfect quick and easy seafood dinner.
 
My recipe works well with any firm, mild white fish. Haddock, pollock, cod, halibut, flounder, whiting, walleye–you get the idea. Cod is usually on the thicker side, so if you’re using a thinner fish like whiting or cooking flounder, just adjust the cook time. You'll know the fish is done when it can be flaked with a fork.
 
Plan your meal so you can cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer. Overcrowding will create steam, and steam is the enemy of perfectly crispy fish. To make sure the breading sticks to the fish when you bite into it, pop the breaded pieces into the refrigerator for 10 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet tray before frying. Once the fish is chilled, if you see any spots that look wet or soaked through, sprinkle a pinch of panko on the wet spot and pat gently before frying. Most air fryers have a nonstick coating on the basket, but if you want to be extra careful, try lining the basket with air-fryer-friendly parchment paper.
 
While Old Bay is certainly the gold standard when it comes to seafood seasoning, there's plenty of room to get creative here. Try your favorite blend of Cajun seasoning, a spicy jerk seasoning blend, or even za'atar.
 
I love to serve this fish with a good tartar or cocktail sauce. French fries are traditional, but you can't go wrong with old southern hush puppies, vinegar coleslaw, Greek lemon potatoes, or any of the traditional side dishes for fish.  Alternatively, use this fish in our fish tacos or fish taco bowls to give some added crunch.
 
For a low carb, keto-friendly version, sub in almond flour for the AP flour and crushed pork rinds for the panko. The pork rinds will break down with a few pulses in a food processor; be sure not to grind them into a powder. If you’re looking for a gluten-free version, go for almond flour and crushed corn flakes.
If there are any leftovers, they can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer.
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Cook time:  10 to 12 minutes a batch
Yield: 2 servings
 
Ingredients 
1 pound cod, cut into 4 even strips
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1-1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
4 lemon wedges for serving
1/4 cup tartar sauce or the sauce of our choice, for serving
 
Directions

1. Pat the fish dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Place the flour, egg and panko in three shallow bowls.
3. Add the Old Bay seasoning to panko and toss to combine.
4. Working one at a time, coat the fish in the flour, then in egg and then in the panko, pressing to coat.
5. Working in batches, place the fish in the basket of the air fryer and cook at 400° for 10 to 12 minutes, gently flipping halfway through, or until fish is golden and flakes easily with a fork.
6. Serve with lemon wedges and the sauce(s) of your choice.

ChefSecret:  Don’t forget to have a bottle of Malt Vinegar on hand for truly authentic London-style fish & chips.

Quip of the Day:  Did you hear what they named the newest fish & chip shop in town? The New Cod on The Block!
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Do you have a question or comment?  Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Entree #Dinner #Fish&Chips #AirFryer #Cod #Haddock #Perch #TartarSauce #CocktailSauce #MaltVinegar #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                    ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

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