Marinated and Fried Small Fish
Boquerones Don Pedro
These tiny fish are a specialty at Meson de Don Pedro, a hundred-year-old tavern on the lively Don Pedro Street in Old Madrid. Legend has it that this was the very spot where the famous painter Francisco de Goya was stabbed by a jealous husband.
Equipment
- shallow bowl
Ingrediënten
- Makes 4 to 6 Servings / Preparation: At least 4 hours in advance.
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 bay leaf crumbled
- 4 peppercorns
- Pinch of dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- Freshly ground white pepper
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 pound very small fish such as smelts (about 20 per pound), cleaned with heads left on
- Flour such as semolina for dredging
- Olive oil for frying
- Kosher or sea salt
Instructies
- In a shallow bowl, mix the finely chopped garlic, crumbled bay leaf, peppercorns, dried oregano, ground cumin, red wine vinegar, white pepper, salt, and water.
- Add the small fish and turn them to coat thoroughly.
- Cover the bowl and let the fish marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, turning them occasionally.
- Drain the fish and discard the bay leaf.
- Heat at least 1/2 inch of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
- Alternatively, use a deep fryer set at 360°F.
- To check if the oil is hot enough, a cube of bread should turn light brown in about 60 seconds.
- Place the flour in a shallow bowl.
- Season both sides of each marinated fish with salt, then dredge them in the flour.
- Carefully place the fish in the hot oil.
- Cook them, turning once, until they become well browned and crispy, which should take about 5 minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried fish to paper towels to drain.
- Sprinkle the Boquerones Don Pedro with coarse salt and serve them immediately.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
These Marinated and Fried Small Fish represent the delicious tradition of Spanish cuisine, offering a delightful tapa that combines the flavors of marination with the satisfying crispiness of frying. Enjoy!
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