Ingredients:

4 white fish fillets (such as cod, tilapia, or haddock)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup cold sparkling water

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Zest of 1 lemon

Vegetable oil, for frying

Lemon wedges, for serving

Tartar sauce, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper.

2. Gradually add the sparkling water to the dry ingredients, whisking until you have a smooth batter.

3. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest into the batter until well combined.

4. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot to about 350°F (175°C).

5. Pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper.

6. Dip each fish fillet into the lemon batter, making sure it's evenly coated.

7. Carefully place the battered fish into the hot oil and fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Cook in batches, if necessary, to avoid overcrowding the pan.

8. Once the fish is cooked, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

9. Serve the lemon batter fish hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the fish. You can also serve it with tartar sauce for dipping, if desired.

Optional

You can pair the fried batter fish with a tartar sauce of your choosing. And enjoy it with potato wedges or fries making it a well-rounded meal .