Whitebait Fritters

Name: Whitebait Fritters
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: New Zealand
Ingredients: 2 cups fresh whitebait; 3 eggs, lightly beaten; 2 tbsp flour; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp butter; Lemon wedges, for serving

4 servings10 min prep15 min cookEasy New Zealand

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Whitebait Fritters

Story updated September 17, 2026

Whitebait fritters use New Zealand's native whitebait, tiny juvenile fish caught seasonally in the country's rivers, bound simply in egg batter and fried. The dish has been a treasured seasonal delicacy since colonial times, prized partly because whitebait runs are limited and their season is short.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

2 cups fresh whitebait
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp flour
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp butter
Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

1Gently rinse the whitebait and drain well.
2In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the flour, salt, and pepper until just combined.
3Fold the whitebait into the egg mixture, being careful not to break up the delicate fish.
4Melt butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
5Spoon small patties of the mixture into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden.
6Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon.

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