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Fried gobies
Bychky smazheni (бички смажені): Black Sea gobies floured and fried crisp, eaten whole
Odesa's beloved bychky, the little big-headed gobies of the Black Sea, are sold by the bucket at Pryvoz market and fried in sunflower oil in kitchens and beach cafés all summer. Dusted with seasoned flour and fried hard, they come out crunchy and golden, with sweet white flesh and bones so small they are eaten whole. Serve with lemon, a tomato and cucumber salad, bread and plenty of dill. Most people go wrong by using too little oil, so the fish stick and the coating flakes away; you want a good centimetre in the pan. Outside the Black Sea region, smelt, sprats or small whiting work the same way. Chef's tip: for the crunchiest result, ask for the heads to be removed and the fish gutted, salt them 10 minutes in the fridge, then dry them very well before flouring.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the fish
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 ⅞ oz plain flour
- ¾ cup sunflower oil
To serve
- 1 lemon (optional)cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp fresh dill (optional)chopped
- 1 garlic clove (optional)finely chopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse the 1 ¾ lb small gobies (or smelt, sprats), gutted and headed, toss with the 1 tsp salt and leave in the fridge for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 2: Pat the fish very dry with kitchen paper. Mix the 2 ⅞ oz plain flour with the ½ tsp black pepper on a plate and roll the fish in it, shaking off the excess.
4 minStep 3: Heat the ¾ cup sunflower oil in a wide frying pan over a medium-high heat until a pinch of flour sizzles instantly.
3 minStep 4: Fry the fish in batches in a single layer for 3–4 minutes per side, until deep golden and crisp, and the flesh is opaque at the backbone and flakes easily.
8 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot, sprinkled with 2 tbsp fresh dill and 1 garlic clove, with 1 lemon wedges.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does fried gobies 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).
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