Balatoni hekk
Hekk: paprika-floured fried hake, the Balaton beach snack with lemon
Hake never swam in Lake Balaton, yet fried hekk is the taste of a Hungarian summer at the lake: a paper tray of hot, crisp fish bought from a beach kiosk in Siófok or Balatonboglár, eaten in a swimsuit with lemon squeezed over and a slice of white bread. Cleaned, headless hake pieces are rolled in seasoned flour with a little paprika and fried until the outside crackles and the white flesh inside is soft and juicy. Serve with lemon, bread and a sharp cucumber salad. The usual slip is not drying the fish, so the flour turns pasty; pat it well with paper first. If the fish is frozen, thaw it in the fridge overnight, never on the counter. Chef's tip: flour the fish only at the last moment, just before it goes into the oil, so the coating stays dry and crisp.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 2 ⅞ oz plain flour
- 1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups sunflower oil for frying
- 2 lemonscut into wedges
To serve
- 4 slices white bread (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rinse the 1 ¾ lb hake pieces or small headless hake, cleaned, pat it very dry with kitchen paper and sprinkle it all over with the 1 ½ tsp salt.
3 minStep 2: Mix the 2 ⅞ oz plain flour, 1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika and ½ tsp black pepper on a plate.
1 minStep 3: Heat the 2 cups sunflower oil for frying in a deep frying pan to 350°F, when a pinch of flour sizzles at once.
6 minStep 4: Roll the fish in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess.
2 minStep 5: Fry in batches for 6–8 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp and the flesh is opaque and comes away from the bone easily.
8 minStep 6: Drain on kitchen paper and serve at once with the 2 lemons and 4 slices white bread.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 33 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does balatoni hekk take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of sweet hungarian paprika?
- Smoked paprika, half the amount.
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