RECIPE OF THE DAY ... ITALIAN FISH

Growing up in an Italian household means a lot of things: lots of tomatoes, left over meatball sandwiches from Nonna’s Sunday sauce, smelly lunches, pasta with almost anything in it, stories of poor immigrants and how much polenta they consumed. The red, white and green list is endless. But, I do remember how magical Christmas always was. Christmas Eve was celebrated to the extent of a non-Italian’s New Year’s Eve, and it was just magical. Except for, well, all the fish.

As years went by, my tastebuds matured and I was not only able to stomach baccala’, but actually enjoy it, and Christmas miracle of Christmas miracle, cook it now for my family. Yet, I remember one dish I did eat, and that was fried spearing. What is a spearing? It looks like chum, or bait for a bluefish, but it’s cheap and when it’s fried, it’s as yummy as a McDonald’s fry.

And, in typical Italian fashion, it’s incredibly easy to prepare:

• 2 lbs spearing fish. (Most Italian fish markets will carry it. Do not let them sell you smelts. They are too big.)
• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper

In a colander, throw a handful of clean fish, as dry as possible, with a handful of flour, salt and pepper.

Shake the fish and the flour until there is only a coating on the fish.

Have a VERY HOT deep fryer ready to go.

Fry the fish until golden brown and crunchy. Salt to taste.

These little babies were my seafood gateway. I still hate baccala’, but you can’t have everything! LOL. Buon Natale!!!!

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