Whitebait Patties Recipes

WEST COAST WHITEBAIT PATTIES

Steps:

• Beat the eggs in a large bowl, then mix in the milk.
• Season with salt & pepper to taste.
• Lightly beat through the flour & baking powder to ensure there are no lumps. Add the flour slowly - the mixture should be thick & runny but not too gloopy.
• In a colander, rinse the whitebait and pick out any river stones or other debris.
• Drain, and mix into the egg mixture until well combined.
• Heat a frying pan on medium-high heat, and once heated, add the butter/olive oil.
• Drop in dessert-spoonfuls of the whitebait mixture, and cook until the pattie is set (& starts to go golden on the underside). The whitebait will normally have gone white at this stage.
• Turn, and cook on the other side until golden.
• Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve, in my house they get eaten as fast as they are cooked!

WHITEBAIT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Beat the eggs with a fork in a bowl until light and frothy. Stir the whitebait into the egg mix. Add a good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix together well.
• In a large frying pan add the oil and butter to the pan on a medium heat. When the butter starts to bubble add the egg and whitebait mixture in even tablespoonfuls and cook for one-two minutes, then flip and cook the other side until lightly golden brown.
• When cooked transfer to a warmed spare plate. Continue cooking in batches of 5-6 fritters until the mixture is finished.
• Serve with fresh lemon wedges - and slices of fresh buttered white bread for the classic traditional Kiwi serving.

THE BEST NEW ZEALAND WHITEBAIT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Drain your whitebait in a colander. Set aside.
• In another bowl, sieve the flour. Make a well and add the beaten eggs with a dash of water, then mix into a smooth, thick batter.
• Now gently fold in the whitebait, sliced spring onions and lemon juice (or lemon pepper). Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a good quality, heavy pan and place a large spoonful of the fritter mixture in the pan. Shape into round fritters and cook until the egg is set or until golden on one side (use egg-flip to peek under). You do not need to wait for the fish to go white. Then gently flip over as you would an omelette and cook the other side for 20 seconds.

WHITEBAIT PATTIES

Steps:

• Beat together all ingredients except for the whitebait.
• Add the whitebait.
• Drop tablespoons of the mixture into a frypan at a medium heat, adding more oil as needed.