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!

BEST-EVER WHITEBAIT FRITTER

Steps:

• Mix whitebait and yolks and a little salt and pepper. Whisk the whites until almost firm, but not dry, and fold into the whitebait.
• Heat up a pan, adding some butter and olive oil, and dollop spoonfuls of the mixture into the sizzling fat.
• Fry until golden on both sides then eat on hot buttered toast, or simply just eat with your fingers with lemon juice squeezed over them.

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.

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.