Fried Smelt and Vegetables with Skordalia

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup semolina
• Salt, to taste
• Fresh cracked pepper to taste
• 1 pound smelts, cleaned
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 gallon canola oil, for frying
• Lemon Wedges
• Skordalia, recipe follows

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup of flour, semolina, salt, and pepper and mixes well. Dredge the fish in the buttermilk and then in the flour mixture. In a medium sized pot or deep fryer, heat 3 to 4 inches of oil and deep fry the fish until golden brown and becomes crisp. Remove fish and drain on paper towels. Serve with skordalia and a wedge of lemon.

Skordalia:

• 2 each medium baking potatoes, like russets, boiled with skin, put through a ricer
• 1 cup cream
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt, to taste
• Cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup freshly lemon juice
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Put the potatoes through a food mill or ricer and place in a bowl for mixing. Whisk in the cream, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar and a little water if necessary mix until mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep cool until ready to use. Yield: approximately 3 cups