Whitebait

Directions

1. 1
   Heat the oil for frying in a deep-fat fryer to about 375 degrees F.
2. 2
   Put the whitebait and the seasoned flour into a plastic bag, and toss everything around to coat the fish.
3. 3
   Shake the excess flour by turning out the whole bag into a metal sieve, and then plunge the little fishes into the oil.
4. 4
   Cook for about 3 minutes or until they look crispy and tempting - though I can see that for a squeamish generation, the idea of eating baby fish, whole, might not tempt.
5. 5
   How wrong they are, if that's the case.
6. 6
   Turn them out onto paper towels, and while the fish are losing any excess oil (we want desirable crunch) throw in a small handful of parsley leaves to deep-fry; watch out, it will spit.
7. 7
   (A splatter guard is useful.
8. 8
   Not charming, but useful.)
9. 9
   When they have turned a very dark green, drain and serve with the whitebait, well sprinkled with sea salt and surrounded with lemon wedges.