Bill's Pan-Fried Smelt

in , , , , on Tuesday, January 10, 2012



We all know that food is the way to a man’s heart and it’s the way to mine also! 

I’m telling you something Bill doesn’t even know ~ one of the myriad reasons I married him many years ago is due to all the delicious food he introduced to me.  It was when we came up here from Louisville to visit his family that his mother served smelt for dinner.  We didn’t eat smelt in Louisville as it was unheard of. 

Now after living here many years, we still savor the supply of fresh smelt that is so plentiful in the spring time. When my parents visited us from Louisville, Bill fried smelt on the grill for them and then they fell for it hook, line and sinker!

Of course, smelt always starts the eternal argument ~ how many will be swiped through corn meal and how many through flour before frying.  It’s a never-ending battle with uneven results for some as Bubba and I hurry to hide the flour before Bill finds it and Matt and Kathy liking it either way.

 Smelt net fishing


Smelt resembles salmon in appearance but is much smaller, generally around 7” and is fished primarily around the Great Lakes.  It is one of the few fish that fishermen are allowed to net.  They also provide food for the growing trout and salmon populations in Lake Michigan. 

Smelt is a very delicate fish and requires great care from the time of netting to cleaning them before frying.  Depending upon where you purchase them, some additional cleaning may be necessary.  If that is needed we use a soft tootbrush.

The smelt requires nothing but salt and pepper; no batter, no tartar sauce here.  There’s nothing quite like eating them, tail and all, even as a delicious finger food if you don’t have time to pick up a fork! 

 With corn meal

With flour


Bill’s Pan-Fried Smelt

Smelt
Salt and pepper, to taste
Corn meal
Flour
Crisco

Carefully clean the smelt.
Melt Crisco in skillet, about 1” deep to cover fish, heat to 375 degrees.
Dip smelt in corn meal or flour.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Fry in hot grease.
Turn, continue frying for a total time of about 2-4 minutes until golden. 

Allow approximately 1/3 pound smelt per person.

Spring is in the air and the smelt are in the water awaiting your skillet.  I hope you try this and fall for it hook, line and sinker also!




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