Port Washington Fried Smelt

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups water, plus more as needed
• 1 cup beer
• 20 unsalted saltine crackers, crushed fine
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 (48 ounce) bottle peanut oil or 1 (48 ounce) bottle vegetable oil
• 2 lbs cleaned fresh smelt

Recipe

• 1 whisk together the flour, 1 1/4 cups water and beer in a large bowl until smooth; add more water, if needed, to make a thin batter.
• 2 combine crackers and cornmeal in a pie plate.
• 3 heat oven to 200°.
• 4 heat oil in a heavy, deep saucepan over medium-high heat until temperature reads 375°.
• 5 dip smelt a few at a time into beer batter, allowing excess to drip off; roll lightly in cracker mixture.
• 6 add smelts to hot oil in batches; cook, turning occasionally, until crisp and browned on all sides, about 3 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and keep warm in oven while frying the remaining smelt.
• 7 serve hot.