Light and Crispy Fried Smelt

If smelt isn’t a protein you’ve dabbled with in the past, let me try to convince you. Not only are these little fish cost-effective, but when dredged and fried to achieve a light, crispy, yet flaky exterior, they might just be better than calamari. This fried smelt recipe is perfect for Christmas Eve (can you say Feast of the Seven Fishes?), entertaining a crowd, yet easy enough to make on a random Tuesday. If you don’t love smelt because you’ve never tried it or because small fish just aren’t your thing, this recipe might just make them “your thing.”

What Is Smelt Fish?

Smelt is a family of small fish typically between 6-8 inches in length. Born in fresh water, then returning to the sea, smelt can be found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in freshwater rivers and lakes.

Similar to anchovies and sardines, these little fish are nutrient-rich, packed with omega-3s, and are a great source of protein. In terms of flavor, they are relatively mild compared to anchovies. So why don’t you see these little fish on more menus? Some people consider them only as bait fish, and some don’t see the value in them, but if you are someone like me, you just see them as delicious.

WHERE CAN I BUY SMELT?

Surprisingly, I bought the bag of smelt from my local grocery chain in the frozen fish section. Always check there first. The next resort would be to give your local fish markets a call; sometimes, they will have them frozen. If you are in a fishing heavy town, they may even have them fresh.

DO I NEED TO CLEAN SMELT?

Yes, I know it might sound annoying to clean out the bellies of every fish, but the innards are bitter and will make them taste very unpleasant. It is possible to buy them pre-cleaned, or if your fish market sells them, they may be able to gut them for you.

HOW TO CLEAN SMELT?

Cleaning fish, especially one as small as smelt might seem intimidating. I promise you its easy, and worth the extra effort if you can’t find pre-cleaned smelt.

• Cut off the head; this can be done easily with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• Cut down the belly by placing the scissors in the opening you just created with the head removed. Cut down 3/4 to open the entire belly of the fish.
• Scoop out the guts. This can be done quickly with your finger, or if you prefer, you can also use tweezers.
• Scrub the inside using your finger or even a small brush. Scrub until the black residue is gone.

What You’ll Need For Crispy Smelt

FRIED SMELT

• Smelt – If you are confused on what smelt is, look at the passage above.
  • Substitute: Can’t find smelt? You can also swap this out for fresh anchovies, although I find that they are harder to come by. No, you can not swap this out for tinned anchovies.
• Flour– Some people swear by coating them in a combo of flour and corn starch. I didn’t notice a significant difference between the two.
• Olive Oil OR Neutral Spray Oil – Depending on the cooking method you choose, you will either pan-fry these little fish in olive oil or spray them down before air frying. For the air fryer, I suggest using a neutral, high smoke point oil such as avocado oil.
• Lemon – Fresh only! Lemon in this part of the recipe is used to squeeze over the finished fried fish to add brightness and complement the seafood.

LEMON CAPER AIOLI

No we aren’t making aioli from scratch. Truth be told even I have issues emulsifying the egg. This quick and easy aioli is acidic, briny, and the perfect accompaniment to these crispy fried fish.

• Mayo –Technically, aioli and mayo are not the same thing. Aioli is the emulsification of olive oil and garlic, while mayo involves eggs. However, these days people use aioli and mayo interchangeably, and most of the time, if you are having aioli, you are probably just having seasoned mayo. To make your life easier and keep this recipe at an easy difficulty, we are dressing up mayo. Pick a good mayo that you already like; after all, it is the base of this sauce.
• Lemon – Fresh only. You need the zest of a full lemon and the juice of a 1/2.
• Capers
• Dijon Mustard – I absolutely love using Maille Dijon Mustard. Its acidic, tangy, and overall a well rounded dijon.
• Garlic – Fresh only, 1 clove.

Tools Needed

• Optional Basket Air Fryer – I find that the toaster oven format air fryers are NOT the same as the basket air fryers. This recipe calls for a basket version. For reference I use the Ninja AF101, which has a nice sized basket ( It can make about 10-15 smelt at a time).
• Prong Thermometer – If opting to pan fry, a prong thermometer is reccomended to hit the desired 350°F.

How To Make Crispy Fried Smelt

There are two methods for cooking these smelt fish. The first, and recommended method, is to pan-fry them. The second is the easier method, which involves using the air fryer. Below are both methods along with the positives and negatives for each approach.

Pan Fried Smelt

If you’re looking for the best flavor and a crispy exterior, then pan-frying is the way to go. Cooking these little buggers in olive oil imparts SO MUCH FLAVOR. Additionally, you can immediately salt them when you remove them from the pan. However, be aware that this method is also messy—watch out for popping oil—and requires you to stand over the pan and monitor.

1. Prep the Smelt – If the smelt aren’t pre-cleaned and gutted please refer to the smelt passage above. Thoroughly dry the fish with a paper towel and season with a heavy pinch of kosher salt. Working a few fish at a time, dredge the smelt in flour, knocking off any excess. Don’t pre-dredge the fish. The longer the fish sit with flour the more they will absorb it and you won’t get a crispy crust.

2. Fry the Fish – Add 1/4 inch of olive oil to a pan and heat over medium heat. Using a probe thermometer, bring the oil to 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, sprinkle a tiny bit of flour into the oil. If it bubbles, the oil is ready. Once hot, carefully add the smelt one by one, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cook them in 2–3 batches. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, or until lightly golden. Allow the oil to recover between batches, meaning let it return to 350°F before adding more smelt. The oil should not exceed 375°F.

3. Finish- Remove the fried smelt from the oil and place on a wire rack or paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle with salt. When ready to eat serve with some lemon wedges and the lemon caper aioli.

I get it, we don’t always have to time to babysit the pan, or the desire to cook with a decent amount of oil. If this is you then I suggest you go with the air fryer. Not only is it easier, less mess, and probably less calories (from getting rid of the excess oil), but they taste almost just as good as an frying.

Crispy Air Fryer Smelt

I wasn’t an air fryer believer until a few months ago, but man, is this machine useful! It is the easier cooking method and doesn’t require constant babysitting. You still need to flip them, but in terms of mess and the amount of oil, it’s far less. Cooking the smelt this way doesn’t impart the delicious olive oil flavor. Nevertheless, it is a great alternative if you dislike pan-frying.

1. Prep the Smelt – If the smelt aren’t pre-cleaned and gutted do this first. Thoroughly dry the fish with a paper towel and generously salt. Working a few fish at a time, dredge the smelt in flour knocking off any excess flour. Don’t pre-dredge the fish. The longer the fish sit with flour the more they will absorb it and you won’t get a crispy crust.

2. Air Fry the Fish – Preheat the air fryer to 390°F degrees (this takes about 3 minutes). Place the smelt in a single layer in the air fryer. Also important here to not over crowd the basket. Not only will it take longer to cook, not brown evenly, but they will stick together.

Spray generously with the spray oil before popping the basket back in and cooking for 3-4 minutes. Flip the fish and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the smelt are lightly golden in color (approx. 7-8 minutes in total cook time). If you notice that there is still dry flour on the fish after the first flip, give it another spray. Remove from the air fryer and place on a wire rack or paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle with salt.

3. Finish- When ready to eat serve with some lemon wedges and the lemon caper aioli.

Recipe Video

How To Serve Crispy Fried Smelt

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing / Reheating

Enjoy light and crispy fried smelt immediately for the best flavor and texture. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1–2 days. When ready to reheat, place the smelt in a 350°F oven or air fryer for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. Let them rest for 1 minute to crisp back up.