It's amazing how many people ask me about how I cook my whitebait. Being dutch I tend to stretch those little buggers as far as I can.

The best way is still the fritter.

The old white bait fritter or omelette:

3 eggs yolk separated from the whites

2 Tb white bait

pinch salt and ground white pepper

1/2 zest lemon 

1/2 lemon juice

Method:

Add the whitebait to the egg yolks, lemon zest and season, whisk the egg whites till soft peaks form. Combine carefully by folding with the whitebait mix.

Heat a small frypan with a touch of oil and add the whitebait mix in, mixing lightly with a fork. Allow to set and then turn and place under a grill in the oven. 

Serve on lightly buttered white bread! with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Other ways to cook whitebait

Make a beer batter much like what your fish and chips shop would make but slightly lighter. Drop your whitebait into the batter and then fry lightly. Serve over a mushroom risotto with a fresh rocket salad! 

Maybe I should put a special whitebait dish on at Boy and Bird - crispy whitebait over a chicken and spring pea risotto!