FRIED FLOUNDER WITH SWEET PEPPER MAYO

Fried Flounder with Sweet Pepper Mayo image

Provided by Trisha Yearwood

Time 35m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely chopped multicolored baby bell peppers
2 tablespoons chopped cornichon
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Hot sauce, as desired
Vegetable oil, for frying
1 pound skinless flounder fillets
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dredging
1/4 cup rice flour
1 tablespoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup club soda
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

For the sweet pepper mayo: Combine the mayonnaise, peppers, cornichon, parsley and lemon zest and juice in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Season with hot sauce to taste. Refrigerate while you make the flounder.
For the flounder: Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a medium Dutch oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut the flounder crosswise into pieces about as thick as 2 fingers. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, rice flour, seafood seasoning and baking powder in a large bowl (no need for salt as the Old Bay has salt in it). Whisk in the club soda to make a smooth batter slightly thinner than pancake batter.
Spread flour for dredging on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Dredge half of the flounder in the flour, then dip in the batter and add to the hot oil. Fry until golden and very crisp, turning occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
Return the oil to 375 degrees F and immediately dredge, batter and fry the second batch. Serve right away with the sweet pepper mayo.