apricot ale battered cod

i rarely serve fried food, but when i do i like to do it right. apricot ale battered cod, onion rings and zucchini with a heaping plate-full of oven roasted broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, green beans and mushrooms. i used pyramid apricot ale, and it really was wonderful. the batter was tangy, crisp, and perfectly salty.

1/2 c corn starch
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 c pyramid apricot ale
2 tbs white wine vinegar
1 lb frozen cod, thawed
1 zucchini, quartered
2 onion sliced, separated into rings

toss the cod, zucchini, and onion in cornstarch, making sure it is evenly coated (i can't stand the feel of cornstarch, so i got my nerd to do this part!).

in a large skillet heat about 1 inch of oil to 350 degrees.

in a large bowl whisk together salt, flour, and baking powder. whisk in ale and vinegar (don't over mix! you'll want the batter to retain as much carbonation from the ale as possible).

dip the cod, zucchini, and onions in the batter, coating evenly, then fry in oil- 7 minutes each side for cod, 3-4 minutes each side for zucchini & onion. the batter should develop a rich, golden brown color.

you could serve this with malt vinegar and tartar sauce, but we had it plain because the flavor of the batter was great on its own!