Eating raw dried shrimps and smelt fish (beer, paprika, meal)

[xani]

I got into a habit of eating dried shrimps found in Mexican carnicerias recently, eating them raw, including their head and legs. Is it how they're eaten in Mexico? And is it safe to eat them this way?
Also, I noticed there're very small dried smelt fish being sold. How to eat it and can it be eaten raw? It has slightly bitter flavor... and I wonder if lime juice and paprika can make it into a dish.

[uggabugga]

the very small dried fish are probably anchovies, not smelt. i have eaten both [uncooked] dried anchovies and shrimp without any problems..

[1751texan]

Originally Posted by xani

I got into a habit of eating dried shrimps found in Mexican carnicerias recently, eating them raw, including their head and legs. Is it how they're eaten in Mexico? And is it safe to eat them this way?
Also, I noticed there're very small dried smelt fish being sold. How to eat it and can it be eaten raw? It has slightly bitter flavor... and I wonder if lime juice and paprika can make it into a dish.

The shrimp are fine. If they are completely dried. I like mine as a snack with cold beer and some kind of hot sauce.

[kshe95girl]

I use those dried shrimp in dressing for Thai green papaya salad, delicious!

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by xani

I got into a habit of eating dried shrimps found in Mexican carnicerias recently, eating them raw, including their head and legs. Is it how they're eaten in Mexico? And is it safe to eat them this way?
Also, I noticed there're very small dried smelt fish being sold. How to eat it and can it be eaten raw? It has slightly bitter flavor... and I wonder if lime juice and paprika can make it into a dish.

Smelts are eaten as follows:

Buy fresh raw smelts that are headless and gutted.
Rinse the smelts in cold water pulling out any remaining entrails.
Dry on paper towel.
Mix flour and salt in a paper bag to your taste. I use lots of salt
Shake a few smelts at a time.
Place on wire rack to dry a little more.
Fry in vegetable oil (not olive) at 350 F. a few at a time. To golden brown like a french fry.
Do not crowd pan. Turn at least once.
Eat whole smelt, bones, tail and all. Like a french fry. Add more salt if needed.

Go great with scrambled eggs for breakfast. One of life's best treats.

[uggabugga]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

Smelts are eaten as follows:

Buy fresh raw smelts that are headless and gutted.
Rinse the smelts in cold water pulling out any remaining entrails.
Dry on paper towel.
Mix flour and salt in a paper bag to your taste. I use lots of salt
Shake a few smelts at a time.
Place on wire rack to dry a little more.
Fry in vegetable oil (not olive) at 350 F. a few at a time. To golden brown like a french fry.
Do not crowd pan. Turn at least once.
Eat whole smelt, bones, tail and all. Like a french fry. Add more salt if needed.

Go great with scrambled eggs for breakfast. One of life's best treats.

that's very similar to how i prepare them, except i use finely ground cornmeal instead of flour.

yummylicious.

[Hunter Wold]

small salted shrimps and beer +++

[jtur88]

Salting and drying seafood is the oldest method of preserving them. Properly salted and dried fish keeps literally for years, remaining perfectly safe to eat. The smelt you described is probably a marine species of smelt, possibly Capelin, which is much more abundant than the fresh-water variety that is sold fresh in the USA called smelt, and in recent years has become very expensive, even where it is caught.

In Newfoundland, one can buy packages of dried Capelin anywhere, and they are a popular snack food, including the heads. When they run, they can be scooped up off the beach with snow shovels, and many people dry their own.