This starter recipe shows how to cook sprats. This fish recipe is served with a horseradish sauce and you could use whitebait instead of sprats if you wish.
Ingredients – 4 portions
- 8 sprats per portion
- 3tbs plain flour
- 1 tbs cayenne pepper
- Sea salt / pepper to taste
- 1 lemon
- Little gem lettuce to garnish
- 1 tsp parsley
- 4 tsp horseradish mustard
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 4 slices brown bread & butter
Getting everything ready
- Season the flour with sea salt and freshly milled black pepper. Add most of the cayenne pepper (saving a little for dusting) and mix well.
- Cut the lemon into wedges.
- Wash and dry a few lettuce leaves.
- Chop the parsley.
- Wash the sprats. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the heads. Rewash and pat them dry on a clean cloth.
Method
- Heat the oil in a deep pan or work to around 200°C (Gas Mark 6). Pass the sprats through the seasoned flour and shake off any excess flour.
- Carefully lower into the hot oil. Fry about 6 at a time, so as not to lower the oil temperature.
- Fry for about 4 minutes until crispy and light brown in colour.
- Remove from the hot oil and drain on kitchen paper. Keep warm while cooking the remaining fish.
- Arrange the lettuce leaves on your plates.
- Neatly arrange and add the lemon wedges and a spoonful of horseradish mustard. Add a piece of bread and butter. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and dust with a little cayenne pepper. Serve hot.
Cooking sprats – hints and tips
You can exchange sprats in favour of whitebait, which are a little smaller. Increase the number to about 16 per portion. Don’t remove the heads and fry for about 2 minutes.
Fillet of cod in beer batter
This recipe for cod has a fillet of cod cooked in a beer batter. If looking for cod recipes, this cod in beer batter will be ideal and is great served with a pea puree and chunky chips.
Grilled sea bass
This sea bass recipe is for grilled sea bass served with asparagus spears and baby broad beans. If looking for sea bass recipes, this grilled sea bass recipe will be ideal.
Prawn and avocado cocktail in an avocado skin
This prawn cocktail recipe uses prawns and avocado and is served in an avocado skin. If looking for recipes for prawn cocktail, this prawn avocado is great served with triangles of brown bread and butter.
Monkfish fillets
This fish recipe is for monkfish fillets wrapped in bacon. If looking for monkfish recipes, this monkfish served with bacon and cous cous will be ideal.
Baked salmon with a herb crust
This salmon recipe is for baked salmon with a herb crust. If looking for salmon recipes, this baked salmon recipe will be ideal.
King prawns in tempura batter
This prawn recipe is for king prawns in tempura batter. This prawns in batter recipe makes a great starter or snack and is great served with sweet chilli mayonnaise.
Smoked haddock chowder
This smoked haddock recipe is for a smoked haddock chowder. If looking for a recipe for haddock, this smoked haddock chowder will be ideal.
Prawn cocktail in a glass
This prawn cocktail recipe uses prawns and avocado and is served in a glass. If looking for recipes for prawn cocktail, this prawn avocado is great served with triangles of brown bread and butter.
Smoked salmon sushi style
If looking for salmon recipes, this recipe with smoked salmon is worth a go. This salmon recipe is served sushi style with sushi dressing and sushi rice.
Essential tips for buying fish
The following gives some useful tips on what to look out for when buying and cooking fish, such as finding a fishmonger and looking into the fish’s eyes!