Fried Fish Bites with Sweet Potato Fries and Spicy Mayo

There’s nothing quite like fun and crispy fish and chips, and now you can make them easily at home! Aida makes Fried Fish Bites with Sweet Potato Fries and Spicy Mayo. She’s also has an elegant fish dish that’s perfect for any night of the week: Brown Butter-Sauteed Tilapia With Pistachios.

Yield: 3 to 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ease of Preparation: intermediate
Total Preparation Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• For the mayonnaise: :
  • 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 medium lime)
  • 8 cilantro sprigs, stems trimmed
  • 2 medium garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• For the fries: :
  • 4 cups vegetable oil
  • 2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds)
  • 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• For the fish: :
  • 1 pound sole or haddock fillets
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup chilled club soda

Directions

1. For the mayonnaise: In a blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. For the fries: Heat oven to 200 degrees F. In a large cast iron skillet, pan, or Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F.
3. Meanwhile, peel sweet potatoes and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch planks. Cut planks lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips. Place strips in hot water with vinegar while oil finishes heating. Line a plate with paper towels and set aside.
4. When oil is heated, drain fries and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Add 1/3 of fries to oil and cook until browned and cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove fries to paper towels with a slotted spoon and season immediately with kosher salt. Return oil to 350 degrees F and repeat with remaining fries. Hold in oven until fish is ready.
5. For the fish: Skim oil to clean then return to stove over medium-high and bring to 350 degrees F. Pat fish dry with paper towels then cut into 1/2-inch strips; set aside. In a large bowl whisk together flour, salt, cayenne, and pepper well combined. Add club soda and whisk briefly until a batter is formed (there may be a few lumps left. Place all fish in batter and mix to coat thoroughly. Remove 8 pieces of fish from batter, shake off excess batter, and fry, stirring occasionally, until golden and fish is just cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes. (To test if fish is cooked, break open 1 piece and make sure meat is white throughout.) Transfer fish with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 350 degrees F and repeat with remaining fish. Serve immediately with fries and mayonnaise.