Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich

Name: Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Peruvian
Ingredients: 1 lb fresh or frozen smelt (thawed), cleaned, dried; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced; 2 tbsp fresh lime juice; 2 small Roma tomato, thinly sliced; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 2 tsp aji amarillo paste (or hot sauce); 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 4 crusty sandwich rolls, split

A popular Peruvian street-breakfast sandwich featuring small whole fish (smelt or silver smelts) pan-fried until crispy and tucked into a crusty roll with salsa criolla and aji amarillo mayo.

40 minEasyServes 4430 cal/serving

PeruvianBreakfastStovetopPescatarianHalal-friendlyLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-Free

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Ingredients

1 lb fresh or frozen smelt (thawed), cleaned, dried
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 small Roma tomato, thinly sliced
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp aji amarillo paste (or hot sauce)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
4 crusty sandwich rolls, split

Instructions

1

Pat 1 lb cleaned, dried fresh or frozen smelt (thawed) thoroughly dry. In a shallow dish, mix 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 1/2 tsp ground cumin.
2

Make the aji mayo: stir 2 tsp aji amarillo paste (or hot sauce) into 1/4 cup mayonnaise and set aside.
3

Toss 1/2 small thinly sliced red onion with half the 2 tbsp fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt. Let sit for 10 minutes.
4

Dredge each piece of smelt in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess.
5

Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry smelt in batches until golden and cooked through to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), about 2-3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
6

Add 2 small thinly sliced Roma tomato and remaining lime juice and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro to the pickled onion. Toss gently to make salsa criolla.
7

Spread aji mayo on cut sides of 4 split crusty sandwich rolls. Fill each roll with fried smelt and top with salsa criolla. Serve immediately.

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Questions

What is Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich?

A popular Peruvian street-breakfast sandwich featuring small whole fish (smelt or silver smelts) pan-fried until crispy and tucked into a crusty roll with salsa criolla and aji amarillo mayo. This reference files it under Peruvian breakfast: made on the stovetop, rated easy and about 40 minutes start to finish.

What internal temperature should Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich reach?

For Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich, the target internal temperature is 145 F (about 65 C), given in step 5. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why pat it dry first in Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich?

Step 1 reads: "Pat 1 lb cleaned, dried fresh or frozen smelt (thawed) thoroughly dry." Surface water has to boil off before anything can brown. Drying at step 1 means the food sears in the first minute instead of steaming.

Is there a substitute for aji amarillo in Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich?

The entry for Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich calls for 2 tsp aji amarillo paste (or hot sauce). In its place: Blend a roasted orange or yellow bell pepper with a little habanero or serrano. It approximates both the fruitiness and the heat.

Is Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich spicy?

Moderately. The heat in Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich comes from 2 tsp aji amarillo paste (or hot sauce). For a milder plate, start with half the aji paste and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Does Pan con Pejerrey Fried Fish Sandwich contain eggs?

Yes: 1/4 cup mayonnaise. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten and eggs. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

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