Romanian Fried Anchovies Recipe – Hamsii Prajite
This traditional Romanian seaside snack features fresh anchovies that are cleaned, lightly salted, then coated in a mixture of cornmeal and flour before being deep-fried until crispy and golden. Served hot with lemon, garlic sauce, and polenta, they bring the taste of the Black Sea straight to your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 500 gr anchovies hamsii
- 6-7 tbsp malai cornmeal
- 6-7 tbsp flour
- vegetable oil for frying
- salt to season
Instructions
- Start by cleaning the fish. This is a very easy process. Just rip the head off and then pull the spine – which should come out very easily, leaving just the fillet of the fish.
- Wash the filets of fish and pat them dry with kitchen towel.
- Salt the fish and let it absorb it for 30 minutes or so.
- Heat up plenty of oil in a deep pan.
- Mix the cornmeal with the flour in a flat plate.
- Work in batches, so you don’t overcrowd the pan.
- When the oil is hot, take each fish fillet, pass through the cornmeal and flour mixture, and then drop in the pan.
- The fish will be ready in 4-5 minutes. You don’t need to turn it if you have enough oil in the pan.
- Repeat the process until you finish all the fish.
- When ready, take the fish out of the pan and let it rest on a paper towel, to absorb the excess oil.
- Serve hot with lemon squeezed on top, polenta, garlic sauce, and, of course, a glass of cold beer.