Long John Silver’s Batter

 

Here’s a reliable, restaurant-style copycat recipe for Long John Silver’s crispy batter. It’s famous for being light, crunchy, and slightly airy—perfect for fish, shrimp, or chicken.

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🐟 Long John Silver’s–Style Batter (Copycat)

⭐ What Makes This Batter Unique

• Extra-light texture from baking soda + baking powder
• Crispy, craggy coating that stays crunchy
• Mild seasoning, similar to the restaurant’s flavor

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🛒 Ingredients

Dry mix:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Wet:

• ¾ cup cold water (add more as needed—batter should be loose like pancake batter)

For frying:

• Neutral oil (canola, vegetable, or peanut)
• Fish fillets, shrimp, or chicken pieces

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🍳 Instructions

1. Mix the dry ingredients

Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and spices in a bowl.

2. Add the cold water

• Stir in the water until the batter is smooth.
• It should be thin but clingy, similar to pancake batter.
• If too thick, add a splash more water.

3. Heat the oil

• Heat oil to 350–365°F (175–185°C).
• Make sure you have enough oil for deep-frying—the batter needs to float.

4. Batter and fry

1. Pat fish or shrimp dry.
2. Dip into the batter, letting excess drip off.
3. Lower into oil carefully.
4. Fry 3–5 minutes (fish/shrimp) or until golden and super crispy.
5. Drain on a wire rack—not paper towels—to keep the crunch.

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🔧 Tips for Authentic Texture

• Cornstarch ensures a light, crisp shell.
• Cold water helps the batter puff when hitting hot oil.
• Don’t overcrowd the pot—it drops the oil temperature and softens the crust.
• Double-dip trick: For extra craggy bits, gently drizzle a teaspoon of batter over the frying fish after it’s in the oil.

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🍽 Great for:

• Fish fillets (cod, pollock, haddock)
• Shrimp
• Chicken tenders
• Onion rings or fried vegetables

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If you want, I can also give you: ✅ A gluten-free version
✅ An air-fryer adaptation
✅ A printable recipe card
Just tell me!