Home-style sprats

4 servings

60 minutes

Homemade sprats are a dish that embodies the atmosphere of Soviet cuisine, where scarcity forced housewives to be inventive. The recipe is based on sprat fish, an affordable and tender fish that transforms into aromatic, oily sprats with a slight smoky flavor during cooking. Brewed black tea gives them a beautiful golden hue and subtle bitterness, while the combination of bay leaves and peppercorns fills the fish with spicy notes. These homemade sprats are perfect for serving with rye bread, fresh cucumbers, and boiled potatoes.

Energy value per serving

• Calories: 519.4
• Proteins: 33.7g
• Fats: 42.3g
• Carbohydrates: 0.9g

Ingredients

• Capelin: 1 kg
• Freshly brewed black tea: 1.5 glass
• Salt: to taste
• Vegetable oil: 3 tbsp
• Ground black pepper: to taste
• Bay leaf: 3 pc
• Black peppercorns: 5 pc

Cooking steps

1. The sprats have their heads cut off and their insides removed. They are washed well to avoid any blackness.

   Required ingredients:

   • Capelin: 1 kg

2. They tightly place the fish one by one, belly down, in a high cast-iron skillet. They salt and pepper it.

   Required ingredients:

   • Salt:  to taste
   • Ground black pepper:  to taste

3. Strong cold tea is poured to cover the fish layer by 1 cm.

   Required ingredients:

   • Freshly brewed black tea: 1.5 glass

4. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes without covering.

5. When the liquid is almost evaporated, pour in vegetable oil, add peppercorns and bay leaves. Cover with a lid and simmer for another 10 minutes. Let it cool.

   Required ingredients:

   • Vegetable oil: 3 tablespoons
   • Black peppercorns: 5 piece
   • Bay leaf: 3 pieces