1. To make the tartare sauce, combine all the ingredients and adjust seasoning. Set aside in the fridge.
2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into thick chips (or wedges). Rinse in cold water to remove excess starch, then pat dry with paper towel.
3. Heat the sunflower oil to 160 °C in a deep-fryer or pot. Fry the chips in batches until soft but still pale. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towel.
4. Season the hake portions with a sprinkle of sea salt and set aside in the fridge while you prepare the batter.
5. In a large bowl, mix the cake flour, cornflour, masala, turmeric and baking powder. Slowly pour in the ice-cold lager and vodka while whisking continuously to form a smooth batter.
6. Reheat the oil in the deep-fryer or pot to 180 °C. Fry the chips once more until golden and crispy, then set aside on a plate lined with paper towel to drain.
7. Pat dry the fish with paper towel and coat each portion with some extra cake flour. Dip each floured portion into the batter, ensuring they are completely coated.
8. Carefully lower the battered fish into the hot oil and fry for about 5 minutes or until the batter is golden brown and the fish is cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove the fish from the oil and place it on another plate lined with paper towel to drain.
9. Serve the curry-battered fish with the crispy chips, a generous dollop of tartare sauce and lemon wedges. Season with Maldon salt and garnish with coriander.
Extracted with permission from Freestyle Cooking with Chef Ollie (Penguin Random House South Africa)