This vodka tonic battered hake is a great alternative to using beer!
It is not often that I lose my sense of humour and it takes me a long time to get angry. But like a typical red head when I lose it, I really lose it. I think it is important in life to respect other people and to take them into consideration. When I am constantly not taken into consideration by the same person, I will let it slide until ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Has this happened to you? Yesterday, the last straw was placed on the proverbial camel’s back. I had a lot of things on my list to do – shopping, banking, meeting a friend for a birthday milkshake amongst going to gym, working, fetching the post and baking. All of this in a normal day is time consuming enough – but waiting around to meet someone who cancels 15 minutes after I expect them is more than rude. It is inconsiderate. Today I waited 35 minutes (“why” I hear you all asking yourselves) to meet someone to give them their gift. The plan was to meet at a specific time but not a specific place. I decided after 35 minutes to call and tell my friend that I would wait in the coffee shop closest to where I was, only to be told – sorry, I am not going to make it for another 20 minutes. That person knew already at the time we should have met that she was going to be late. So why not send me a text message saying so? Why do she think it is OK for me to sit around and wait for her? This is the same person who would not wait 2 minutes for me when I was running late – go figure. Clearly her time is more important in her mind to my own. So, with my anger levels way up, I have come to realize that this friend is not worth having in my life. My life is short, and time is precious and I cannot spend it sitting around, waiting for them to be in it.
With my time wasted so, supper was a simple fish dish. We do not usually deep fry anything, but for this batter I would do so over and over again. I first experienced it at the Good Food and Wine Show when we cooked this James Martin recipe – it is brilliant and I am sure you could swap out the vodka and tonic which I will do next time I make this. The batter seems to be very thick but do not ‘water’ it down, it works just as it is.
Vodka Tonic Battered Hake
Ingredients
- 15 mls fresh yeast
- pinch of fructose
- 175 mls tonic water
- 25 mls vodka
- 5 mls balsamic vinegar
- 200 g plain flour
- pinch of salt
- 4 portions of hake
- Well seasoned flour for dusting
- oil for frying
Method
- in a bowl add the yeast, fructose, tonic water, vodka and vinegar
- in another bowl add the flour and salt
- slowly whisk the flour into the liquid ingredients
- leave the mixture to ferment – it is ready to use when the mixture starts to bubble
- heat your oil to 190° Celsius
- pat dry the hake fillets
- dust with the flour and then coat with the batter
- cook for 4 minutes – or until golden and crisp
- carefully remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
i’ve had great beer-battered fish, this sounds interesting
this is the closest I have ever come to proper UK fish 🙂
maybe a voddie is the secret ingredient?
or gin??
Sorry about the incident with your friend,I love hake so much,so this recipe is a must try for me this weekend. 🙂
I hope you enjoy it 🙂
This batter sounds great. But I’m wondering why I didn’t try out hake already :).
it is one of our stock fishes here in SA Kay 🙂
Love the idea of using vodka in the batter, I normally use beer. Also really love the idea of have a milkshake between gym!
this is way better than beer in my opinion! and yes, the treat after gym makes the work out worth it 🙂
Tandy, so sorry to hear about your horrible day yesterday. Sending you a big hug!
I have never seen yeast used in batter before- have to give this a try and may swap the vodca out for gin. 😀 Will let you know how it turns out.
🙂 Mandy
I was thinking about gin as well Mandy, and thanks for the hug 🙂
That fish looks amazing Tandy and as for the friend, thats just not on. Don’t blame you for loosing your cool.
*hugs*
thanks Hope! The fish was amazing 🙂
Fish sounds wonderful, what a clever idea to use the Vodka!
I understand completely the “end of the rope” feeling. My father and I work for ourselves and I have had friends who seem to think that because of that I can do anything, any time because “you are your own boss”! I wish!
Lots of hugs and looking forward to the next post. xx
that is what people just don’t get! I WORK, even though it is for myself. Have a super day and hugs back xox
I hate people that are late. So inconsiderate! But vodka makes everything better.
Vodka does indeed improve the mood 🙂
I stopped seeing a friend because she kept cancelling and being late. I think it’s inconsiderate especially if you set time aside to see people and they then cancel it consistently!
I so agree with you, and this is exactly what keeps on happening!
My dad would love to get into this dish – he is also for battering 😀
Great post!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
thanks so much! I love it, even if it is deep fried 🙂
Better off without methinks! And this is like a posh version of beer batter – very nice indeed! Did it taste different from regular batter?
it did not have such a ‘malty’ taste, and I really think this is the best battered fish I have had outside of the UK 🙂
That´s good to know – will have to look out for some nice fish I can do this way!
any firm fish will do 🙂
What a day you had! At least now you have made a decision about your friendship so you can put it behind you, and continue making us wonderful and inspiring dishes. I’ve never heard of a batter with vodka and tonic before now, I’ve seen beer, and also fizzy water batters. So something new, lovely 🙂
Now you have me thinking about lime and fizzy water – I could be making more fried fish soon 🙂
You need to batter your friend rather than the hake:)
Ha ha, that would be a great solution 🙂
Love this idea! I’ve done beer but never vodka tonic, very creative!
I much prefer this to beer – but sadly the idea was not mine but Sweet James 🙂
Ohh! Vodka! 🙂
I know, next time gin!
Katherine once lost a friend that way. The friend stood her up and never called and so my wife said I’ll talk to her when she calls and well… I love the use of vodka here, really the whole recipe.
I thought of you when I did this recipe – the booze kind of makes me 🙂 Good for Katherine for standing her ground 🙂
This looks like a wonderful recipe Tandy!
I totally understand what you are saying; it is a tough decision to make, but it may help fix the situation between you two someday 🙂
Thanks so much!
What an appetizing & special hake recipe: I love it! 🙂
I just gave YOU an AWARD! Yeah! Happy Times!
Why? Come over @ my latest post & check out why!! Have a great weekend!
Thanks Sophie 🙂
The hake looks delicious! Hubs is the one in our household to make battered fish and he is sooooo going to like this batter!!
Good riddens and don’t let her spoil your weekend!
thanks Pink, and let me know what hubby thinks of this batter 🙂
Hi Tandy! Simple fish? Looks totally professional to me!! Have never made that before but would definitely give it a try! 🙂 oh and regarding your situation with your friend, sorry to hear about that. It is quite impolite of her to disrespect your time, especially when you wanted to give her a present. I totally understand your situation as it has happened to me before. Well, hope the success of your delicious dinner made up for it!!
thanks Sam – I think a good dinner always makes a day end well 🙂