This is a gluten-free and dairy-free version of one of my favorite street foods growing up as a child called Atherina Tiganiti, or Greek fried smelts. They’re easy to eat like fries and taste wonderful with their pop of seasoning, crunch from the breaded outer texture, and freshness from a drizzle of lemon.

The traditional variation for breading the fish calls for flour, but you can substitute with a variety of others depending on your diet. In this recipe I use naturally gluten-free corn meal, which is a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, and folate – and it gives the fried smelts and extra crunch. 🙂

You can substitute this recipe with other fish as well. If they’re larger you’ll just need to adjust your cooking time and ingredient measurements. These are traditionally served with lemon.

Let me know in the comments below if you tried the recipe and if you have any variations you’d like to share!