Jul 13 2026
Restaurants›Waterbar Restaurant›Smelt Chips Recipe

Smelt Chips Recipe

Time30m
Serves4

thrown net caught out of Eureka, California, toum, za'atar

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Ingredients

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Fish

Seasoning

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Toum

    To make the toum, combine the garlic cloves in a food processor and pulse until finely minced. Slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil while the processor is running until the mixture emulsifies. Add lemon juice and salt to taste, then blend until smooth.

  2. 2

    Clean the Smelt

    Rinse the smelt fish under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Remove any innards if necessary.

Cooking

  1. 3

    Fry the Smelt

    Heat oil in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the smelt fish and fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.

  2. 4

    Season the Smelt

    While the smelt is still hot, sprinkle with za'atar to taste.

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