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Fried vendace
Sielawa smażona: Masurian lake vendace dusted in flour and fried crisp in butter
PolishSielawa, the small silvery whitefish of the deep Masurian lakes, is a holiday treat in Mikołajki, Giżycko and the lakeside fish huts, sold freshly fried on paper plates with a lemon wedge and a slice of bread. The fish are so slender that, once floured and fried in butter, the fine bones become soft enough to eat and the skin turns golden and crunchy around sweet, delicate flesh. A cold cucumber salad or chips are the usual companions. Overcrowding the pan is the chief error: the fish steam instead of frying and the coating goes pale and soggy. If vendace is hard to find, smelt, small whiting or sprats work the same way. Chef's tip: dry the fish properly before flouring and fry in two batches, adding a little fresh butter and oil each time so it never burns.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the fish
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp white or black pepper
- 2 ⅞ oz plain flour
- 2 ⅛ oz butter
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
To serve
- 1 lemon (optional)cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp fresh dill (optional)chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rinse the 1 ¾ lb vendace or other small whitefish, gutted and cleaned and dry thoroughly on kitchen paper. Season inside and out with the 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp white or black pepper.
4 minStep 2: Put the 2 ⅞ oz plain flour on a plate and roll each fish in it, then shake off the excess.
4 minStep 3: Heat half the 1 oz butter and half the 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat until the butter stops foaming and smells nutty.
2 minStep 4: Fry half the fish in a single layer for 3 minutes per side, until deep golden and crisp; the flesh at the backbone should be opaque and flake easily.
6 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper, wipe the pan, add the remaining 1 oz butter and 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil and fry the second batch the same way.
6 minStep 6: Serve at once, sprinkled with 2 tbsp fresh dill and with 1 lemon wedges to squeeze over.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 35 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 24 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does fried vendace 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 butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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