In my hometown, on the west side of Dongting Lake, around four or five o'clock in the morning, I would go to the lakeside to see the various freshwater delicacies caught by local fishermen. I'd invite a few friends and we'd charter a small fishing boat together. Among the fish, small, meaty fish were the most abundant. They were about the thickness of a finger, never growing very big, but their flesh was exceptionally tender. Even with small bones, it wasn't a problem; after a simple fry, the bones would become crispy, and you could eat them along with the tender fish meat. Secrets to crispy fish bones: Method 1: Fry in plenty of oil. Method 2: After frying, microwave on high for 3-5 minutes.
Materials
Pan-fried small fish - Scallion-flavored small fish with meat - A simple and quick home-style dish to eat with rice
Clean the fresh small fish by removing the internal organs and gills, and drain them. Prepare 2 scallions, cut into diagonal sections; a piece of ginger, thinly sliced; half a head of garlic, thinly sliced; and a green bell pepper, cut into chunks.
Heat a pan with plenty of oil. When the oil is about 70% hot (just starting to smoke), lay the small fish in the pan in a single layer. Swirl the pan to ensure even heating. Pan-fry over medium-low heat for 2 minutes, then flip the fish over and add ginger and garlic. (Using a spatula to flip the fish may cause them to break easily; tossing them directly in the pan is a better way to flip them.)
Pan-fry over medium-low heat for another 2 minutes, then add the green bell peppers. Add 10g of light soy sauce and 1.5g of salt along the edge of the pan. Drizzle with a little white vinegar to remove any fishy smell. Continue to rotate the pan to ensure even heating and slow frying.
Flip it over and continue frying for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and remove from the pan. (Using a spatula to flip it will cause it to break; skilled cooks can simply toss it in the pan to flip it.)
Pan-fried small fish are done! ✅ Crispy skin, tender flesh, and you can easily chew the bones and meat together. Super delicious with rice!
