Smelt Fry

Ingredients

Smelt – ¾ kg
Ginger – 2’’ piece
Shallots – 5
Garlic cloves - 3
Red chilly powder – 2 tsp
Black peppercorns – 10
Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
Lemon juice – 2 tsp
Curry leaves
Salt to taste
Cooking oil

Directions

1. Clean the smelt, pour lemon juice over that and keep for 10 minutes. Wash the smelt and keep aside.
2. Grind the ginger, pepper corns, shallots, curry leaves and garlic. Mix with chilly powder, turmeric powder, salt and little water and make a thick smooth paste.
3. Coat the smelt with this paste and marinate it for 1 hour.
4. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the marinated smelt.
5. Serve the crisp smelt hot.