Whitebait

Whitebait omelet

Whitebait is the most sought after seasonal delicacy. A typical season here runs between mid August to end of November. The transparent slimy fish are actually developed juvenile varieties of small freshwater fish. These little gems can go for $100/Kg or more and there are strict regulations around whitebait fishing.

A friend just returned from touring the South Island and raved about the whitebait from the West Coast. I just have to get some before the end of the season. If you can't be closest to the source, the weekend markets are the best option to hunt for some fresh whitebait. I got about 200 gms from the Port Waikato region.

The best way to enjoy whitebait is definitely making some fritters or omelets. I used 2 eggs, add some finely julienned red chillies, black pepper and salt for taste. Finally fry the omelet with some butter.

1 comment:

Hugh Betcha said...

The omlette looks as delicious as the rest of the food found on your Blog. The wine is also inviting and makes me long for far flung destinations. The cigars are another matter. While they may be some of the finest in the land, I am forever precluded from enjoying fine rolled tobaccos due the the "Old Man's " habit of constantly smoking some of the cheapest and most nauseating cigars (undeserving of the label cigar) called Swisher Sweets. Thanks for the memories.