Best Smelts Baked In White Wine Recipes

PAN-FRIED SMELTS

Steps:

• Rinse the smelts thoroughly and pat dry. Place the bread crumbs, salt and pepper into a large resealable bag and shake to combine. Place the lemon juice into a shallow dish. Dip the smelts into the juice and then place in the bag with the dry mixture and shake until the fish are well coated. You can coat 2 to 3 fish at a time, depending on their size.
• Place enough peanut oil into a 12-inch cast iron skillet just to cover the bottom of the pan. Place over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the smelts to the pan, 4 to 5 at a time, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side until lightly browned and cooked through.

SMELTS BAKED IN WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°.
• Place celery and parsley in a greased baking dish.
• Lay the fish on top.
• Pour wine over fish.
• Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Add salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Arrange mushrooms on top.
• Dot with butter.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, or until fish is cooked through, basting once with pan juices.

BRINED AND SMOKED SMELTS

Steps:

• Rinse the smelts in cool running water. Set aside.
• Place all of the remaining ingredients, except the ice, into the electric kettle. Bring to a boil. Add the ice and stir until the mixture is cooled. Transfer the liquid to a 1-gallon resealable bag along with the smelts. Seal and place in a container so that all of the fish are in the brine. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove the smelts from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Place the smelts onto a paper towel-lined sheet pan, layering with paper towels in between if they won't fit in 1 layer. Allow to dry in the refrigerator overnight.
• The next day, place the smelts onto racks, belly side down, separating them by at least 1/4-inch and place into a smoker. Turn the smoker on so that it maintains a temperature of 150 to 160 degrees F. Adjust heat, as needed, and cook for approximately 3 hours or until desired level of doneness.

WHITE WINE POACHED COD

Steps:

• Saute the garlic in the olive oil until it starts to turn light tan in color.
• Add the white wine and bring to a boil.
• Salt and pepper the fish to taste.
• Carefully slide the fish in the pan of boiling wine skin side down, when it appears as though it is starting to flake, gently flip it to cook the other side. If you prefer you can double the wine and poach the fish without flipping, providing the fish is covered with enough wine.
• When the fish is cooked remove and add the lemon and capers.
• Reduce the wine and add the butter, top the fish with the sauce and enjoy!

QUAIL BAKED IN WINE

Steps:

• Melt fat; add onions, cloves, peppercorns, garlic and bay leaf and cook for several minutes.
• Add quail and brown on all sides.
• Add wine, salt, pepper, cayenne and chives; simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove quail to hot serving dish.
• Strain sauce; add cream and heat to boiling point.
• Pour sauce over quail.