Grammie Bea's Fried Smelts

"We had these a lot growing up, and they were always a real treat... Sweet and delicious, these tiny fish pack a lot of flavor... We always served these with Mashed Potatoes, and Stewed Tomatoes... Some things just go together! WONDERFUL!!!"
 
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Ready In:
50mins
Ingredients:
5
Serves:
2-4
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ingredients

  • 2 -3 lbs fresh water smelt, small, heads removed and bellys slit and cleaned
  • 3 -4 eggs
  • 1 (8 1/2 ounce) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • oil, enough to fill frying pan up about 2-inch
  • 12 teaspoon salt
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directions

  • Buy as many fresh water smelts as you need. They are smaller and sweeter than sea smelts.
  • Clean the smelts in cold water, cutting off the heads, and snip down the belly with scissors, to remove the bellies.
  • Rinse out the bellies of each one, as you cut and snip the heads.
  • Soak in cold water, until you are ready to cook them, or put in fridge.
  • When ready to cook you will need:

  • Eggs, beaten in a lg. bowl, enough to dip all your fish in,(depending on how much you are making depends on how many eggs you.
  • need).
  • I use about 3 eggs for 2 lbs. of smelts.
  • Jiffy corn muffin mix, (if you are cooking 2-3 lbs. of smelts 1 box will do. If you are doing more, then you will need at least 2 boxes).
  • oil, enough to fill the frying pan up about 2".
  • salt, to taste.
  • Beat the eggs well, and put them in a bowl.
  • Put Jiffy corn muffin mix in a lg. plate, and mix in salt, about 1/2 teaspoons per box.
  • Put oil in frying pan to get hot. Cook on high heat, letting the pan get hot, before putting in your fish, then turn down the heat to med-high.
  • Dip your fish in the egg, and then in the muffin mix.
  • Deep fry in at least 2" of oil in a heavy frying pan, until golden brown.
  • You can also use this corn muffin mix to cook any other sweet fresh water fish, such as horn pout, or what you may call catfish, bass, white perch etc.

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Reviews

  1. I made some Recipe #16377 to go with the smelts and I tell you, it was a meal I won't soon forget! Comfort foods at their best. I grew up eating smelts (the little ones) and have always loved them. I don't get to eat them too often, but that is about to change! After eating these tender, sweet fish with this delicious muffin mix batter I have found the perfect recipe for us. This is one meal that makes you wonder why you don't have it on your monthly menu plan. Well, you should if you don't! I just put it on mine!
     
  2. Linda, I was browsing your recipes and saw this recipe for Fried Smelts. I picked some up last month at the store, in the frozen food section, and I was so excited to find this recipe posted here. I had NO idea how I was going to cook them, but I do know that my husband loves them, and I wanted to make them for him! He was flabergasted that I remembered he liked them when he saw what I was cooking last night for dinner, and after dinner he told me these were by far the best Fried Smelts he has ever had, but SHHHHHHHhhhh, don't tell his mother haha! I used the little tiny smelts about 3-4" long, and rinsed them well in cold water to thaw them, then cleaned them and got them ready to go. The flavor of these tender little fish were delicate, sweet, and oh sooooo good! We absolutely will be having these in the very near future, or hubby will divorce me for sure!
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>Hi Everyone,</p> <p>I just don't have the time these days to send out individual thank yous for those that make and review my recipes, but I&nbsp;&nbsp;just want you to know that you are truly appreciated and it tickles me every time I get a review, knowing you tried my recipes and enjoyed them the way I do.</p> <p>I even appreciate the ones that tried them and for some reason they didn't work out for you. &nbsp;Everyone has different tastes, and you can't please everyone all the time. &nbsp;</p> <p>Lots of times people change the recipes, adding things, leaving things out, and not seasoning them to their own taste, and give a bad review... &nbsp;Recipes are only guidelines, and if you follow mine and don't like it, then it's a personal preference as to why you don't like it, and I appreciate that. &nbsp;However, if you don't follow my recipe then it is YOUR recipe that you don't like, and my recipe shouldn't be rated. IMHO &nbsp; Thanks for trying them anyway &nbsp;:)</p> <p>Hugs,</p> <p>Linda</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My name is Linda. I am happily single, and I live in Rochester NH. I just moved back to the town where most of my family lived years ago, and where I lived as a child, after living in NC for 5 years. I have 2 grown sons, a dil, and 2 beautiful grandsons. <br /> <br />I really enjoy my time here on Zaar posting recipes, trying new recipes, taking pictures, and reviewing lots of yummy recipes! <br /> <br />I love to cook, and share recipes. The recipes that I share are mainly my own creations, or family recipes passed down to me from my mom and grandmother, and other family members or friends. If I post something from somewhere else, it has to sound REALLY good to me for me to post it! <br /> <br />Many of the dishes that I prepare are simple, good, down home cooking. Many of them originate from New England, as my grandmother is from Maine, and my mother from New Hampshire. I do also like to try making some gourmet recipes as well, using my creativity along the way. <br /> <br />I started cooking at a the age of 8, helping my mother and grandmother in the kitchen. My curiosity for cooking has led me to create many of my own recipes through trial and error. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family and I do :) <br /> <br />In my spare time I play on my computer collecting recipes, and have been working on creating a cookbook to publish for some time, but have put it aside for now. <br /> <br />I also love to travel and shop. I love to go to the beach and mountains, and as food is a passion of mine, I love to dine out and try many different cuisines in the area, and with friends when I am traveling :) <br /> <br />I made my first herb garden in 2008, but have had vegetable gardens for many years in the past. I have done my share of canning and I love those fresh herbs and veggies all summer long! <br /> <br /> <br />My Rating System: <br /> <br />5 Stars ***** Outstanding recipe that I absolutely loved. It can be down home or restaurant quality, as long as it tastes great and I didn't have to make any changes along the way! Also recipe has to have clear directions. One I would definately make again and again. <br /> <br />4 Stars **** Great recipe that I loved, but one that I may have had to tweak just a bit. Directions may have not been crystal clear. One I would make again and again with my changes. <br /> <br />3 Stars *** I liked the recipe, but had to add ingredients, or add more of a called for ingredient to have the recipe come out the way I like it. 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