Grandma Karen's
Fried Smelt

Especially delicious when caught on the shores of Lake Michigan!

About this recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound smelt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • dash pepper
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup vegetable oil

Directions

  1. Wash the smelt in cool water, especially inside.
  2. Beat together the egg, milk, salt, and pepper.  Measure the flour into a plastic bag.
  3. Heat 1/3 of the oil in a large skillet.
  4. Turn 1/3 of the smelt into the egg mixture.  Then drop into the flour and shake to coat on all sides. 
  5. Place in the hot oil and fry until golden, turning each fish once, about 5 minutes.  Drain on paper towels.
  6. Wipe out burned bits of flour in the skillet with paper towels and add another 1/3 of the oil.  Prepare and fry another 1/3 of the smelt, and then repeat again to finish.
  7. Serve hot. 

Notes

  • To remove the bones, open each smelt at the wide end, take hold of the end of the bone and, zipper-like, strip it out of the fish.
  • To remove the bones before cooking, open each fish flat (starting at the wide end), take hold of the end of the bone and strip it out from top to bottom.  The fish will now be butterflied (e.g. for use in a sauce).  Note, though, that it is easier to remove the bones after cooking.
Posted: May 2020