As a family, we didn’t eat very many takeaways when I was growing up. In fact, I think I could probably remember only a handful of times when this actually happened, but one of my brother and I’s firm favourites was definitely fish and chips. I don’t know what it was about it.. I mean, fish and chips is a pretty ordinary meal- there’s nothing really that exciting or extraordinary about it. It’s also not really a secret, that fish and chips probably isn’t the healthiest of dinner options.. so I wanted to see if I could whip up something slightly more nutritious, simple to make at home and of course; really tasty! This is the perfect dinner to cook up for a Friday night fake-away to enjoy on the sofa in your pjs.
Unlike the classic takeaway chippy dish, both the fish and chips are oven baked, rather than deep fried, so there’s a lot less oil and fat. I honestly enjoy home made chips just as much as the real thing and they’re a lot better for you! I think chips probably get a bit of a bad rep, when actually, if you make them yourself like this, it’s literally just potato, a bit of salt and oil spray. Plus, they’re relatively speedy and simple to make and you can cook up a big batch of them in prep for lunch or dinner the following day. I also find them to be a great option if you’re cooking for lots of people, to serve as a help yourself side dish or snack plate. Did I also mention that making your own chips is literally as cheap as chips because potatoes are really affordable and you can pick them up at pretty much any food store.
For the batter, I’ve kept things really nice and simple with a flour and egg coating. It’s amazing how such a simple combination can create this crisp golden coating for the fish. Fish and seafood are probably one of my favourite protein sources and they’re so versatile and easy to cook with. I think sometimes people can be a little apprehensive with cooking them, but it really doesn’t have to be complicated. You could pretty much make this with whatever kind of fish you like and could even cut it into smaller portions and make your own fish fingers!
