Japanese-Style Fried Smelt

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound of smelt, gutted
1 to 2 cups of vegetable oil
½ cup of all-purpose flour
1 tsp. fine sea salt
Lemon wedges
Thinly sliced radishes
Cooked jasmine rice, optional

Dipping Sauce

2 tbs. soy sauce
2 tbs. mirin
2 tbs. mentsuyu noodle soup base
2 tbs. of water
½ tsp. sugar

Directions

Step 1

Combine dipping sauce ingredients and set aside.

Step 2

In a wide, shallow bowl, combine flour and sea salt. In a wok or frying pan, heat frying oil to 350° Fahrenheit.

Step 3

Toss smelt in the flour mixture to lightly coat, shaking off excess. Deep fry coated smelt in batches until crispy and lightly golden; allow the oil to come back to temperature before adding each new batch. Drain fried smelt on paper towels or lined cooling rack.

Step 4

Lightly squeeze lemon juice over the fried smelt, and serve immediately with the dipping sauce, sliced radish and cooked white rice (optional).