FRIED FISH FINGERS WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse, 1999

Vegetable oil for frying
1 pound Whiting fillets
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup corn flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons milk
2 lemons, halved
Tartar Sauce, recipe follows

Preheat the oil in a large cast iron or heavy bottom pot, over medium heat. Cut the fillets, horizontally into strips, 1/2-inch thick. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Combine the flours and season with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece of fish in the flour, coating completely. Dip each piece in the egg wash, letting the excess drip off. Dredge the fish for a second time in the flour, coating completely. Fry the fish in batches until crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the fish with lemon halves and tartar sauce. Garnish with parsley.

TARTAR SAUCE:

*1 egg
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons minced onions
2 tablespoons pickle relish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup vegetable oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Put the egg, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, onions, relish and mustard in a food processor and puree for 15 seconds. With the processor running, pour the oil through the feed tube in a steady stream, the mixture should be thick. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the processor, cover and let sit for 1 hour in the refrigerator before using. Best if used within 24 hours. Yield: 1 1/3 cups

*RAW EGG WARNING The American Egg Board states: "There have been warnings against consuming raw or lightly cooked eggs on the grounds that the egg may be contaminated with Salmonella, a bacteria responsible for a type of food poisoning....Healthy people need to remember that there is a very small risk and treat eggs and other raw animal foods accordingly. Use only properly refrigerated, clean, sound-shelled, fresh, grade AA or A eggs. Avoid mixing yolks and whites with the shell."



Yield: 4 servings