Crunchy and Light Fried Smelt
This is the holy grail of fried smelt recipes. It's light, crispy, and almost guilt-free with rice flour coating and avocado oil for frying. It's an easy appetizer to make that's fun to share with friends that they will absolutely devour.
Servings 6 servings
Calories 98kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Smelt fish head on or off
- 1.5 cups Rice Flour I used Bob's after trying out others
- 2.5 teaspoons Sea salt , or to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- Avocado oil for frying *see notes for options
- Lemon for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the rice flour, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Rinse the smelt under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Heat avocado oil in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Make sure there is enough oil to fully submerge the smelt.
- Dip each smelt into the rice flour mixture, coating it evenly on all sides. Shake off any excess flour.
- Using a spider spoon, place the coated smelt into the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the smelt for about 2 minutes per side or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Use a spider spoon or tongs to transfer the fried smelt to a cookie rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain off any excess oil.
- Repeat the process with the remaining smelt until they are all fried.
- Serve the fried smelt hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the fish. They are best enjoyed immediately. They pair well with a lemon herb tahini sauce.
Notes
Salt: I'm using a generic amount of salt. After the first batch, try a piece of smelt to see if you need to increase the salt depending on your preference. It helps bring out the taste.
Oil: Though avocado oil is a good flavorless option, feel free to use other flavorless oils, such as canola or vegetable oil.
Pair with: Tahini sauce or homemade tartar sauce.
Storage: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 775mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.03g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg