Persian-style fried fish is a must-have for any Nowruz (Iranian New Year) feast. Mahi sorkh shodeh should be served with sabzi polo (green herb rice).
| Prep Time: | 20 mins |
| Cook Time: | 15 mins |
| Additional Time: | 20 mins |
| Total Time: | 55 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice wine
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound smelt
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, or as needed
- 2 quarts oil for deep frying
- ¾ cup ice water
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon white sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk rice wine and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a bowl. Lightly dust smelt with about 1 tablespoon flour. Add smelt to rice wine mixture; cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large wok to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Mix ice water, 1/2 cup flour, cornstarch, egg yolks, sesame seeds, sesame oil, baking powder, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a bowl.
- Remove smelt from rice wine mixture and dip, 1 at a time, into the flour mixture until evenly coated. Discard remaining rice wine mixture.
- Carefully fry smelt, 2 or 3 at a time, in the hot oil until golden on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel-lined plates. Repeat frying with remaining smelt. Serve warm.
- Reckon about 6 to 8 smelt per person for a starter, and twice that for a main course.
- The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the breading ingredients. The actual amount of the breading consumed will vary. We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and the specific type of oil used.
- The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the marinade ingredients. The actual amount of the marinade consumed will vary.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 759 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 32 g |
| Cholesterol | 181 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Protein | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Sodium | 779 mg |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Fat | 52 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
No changes. It was great
Very good batter. Nice and crispy.
Awesome! And yes, part of the fun is the eyes looking back at you as you’re eating them