Tempura-Battered Smelt

Name: Tempura-Battered Smelt recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 1 cup rice wine; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 pound smelt; 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, or as needed; 2 quarts oil for deep frying; ¾ cup ice water; ½ cup all-purpose flour; ½ cup cornstarch; 2 egg yolks; 2 teaspoons sesame seeds; 2 teaspoons sesame oil; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon white sugar; ½ teaspoon salt

by Amandine Mathieu 1 year ago

4.7 (3)

15 minutes

758.6 kcal

31.9 g carbs

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Description

The classic Acadian way to cook smelt is to fry them. I put a twist on that tradition by frying them in this light tempura batter my husband and I use for shrimp. I serve this with heads on because, like anchovies, these fish are so small everything is edible. But you can remove heads and internal organs if desired.

Ingredients

1 cup rice wine
½ teaspoon salt
1 pound smelt
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, or as needed
2 quarts oil for deep frying
¾ cup ice water
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon white sugar
½ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Whisk rice wine and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a bowl. Lightly dust smelt with about 1 tablespoon flour. Add smelt to rice wine mixture; cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large wok to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3. Mix ice water, 1/2 cup flour, cornstarch, egg yolks, sesame seeds, sesame oil, baking powder, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a bowl.
4. Remove smelt from rice wine mixture and dip, 1 at a time, into the flour mixture until evenly coated. Discard remaining rice wine mixture.
5. Carefully fry smelt, 2 or 3 at a time, in the hot oil until golden on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel-lined plates. Repeat frying with remaining smelt. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

serving: 4 servings

calories: 758.6 kcal

carbohydrates: 31.9 g

protein: 23.6 g

saturated fat: 7.4 g

cholesterol: 181.4 mg

sodium: 779.3 mg

fiber: 0.8 g

sugar: 0.1 g