History
Pescaíto frito spread from Málaga and Cádiz across Andalusia in the 19th century, a way to make the cheap, small fish of the daily catch go far. The technique hinges on a special coarse flour, harina de fritura, and very hot olive oil that seals the fish in seconds without greasiness. In Málaga the classic mix is the fritura malagueña, a mixed fry of anchovies, squid, small red mullet and whitebait. It remains the standard order at every seafront chiringuito and old-town taberna.
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Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Common allergens: Fish, Gluten
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 600g mixed small fish: anchovies, small squid, whitebait, small red mullet
- 200g coarse fry flour (harina de fritura) or semolina flour
- 1 litre mild olive oil for frying
- Sea salt
- Lemon wedges to serve
Method
- Clean the fish, pat very dry and season lightly with salt.
- Heat the olive oil in a deep pan to 180C.
- Toss the fish in the flour, then shake off every loose grain in a sieve.
- Fry in small batches for 1 to 2 minutes until pale gold, never crowding the pan.
- Lift onto paper, salt at once and serve immediately with lemon.
Tip from the editors. Dry fish and truly hot oil are everything; wet fish or a cool pan gives you soggy, greasy fritura.
Where to eat pescaito frito
Pescaito Frito in Málaga
El Merendero de Antonio Martín ★ 4.0
El Merendero de Antonio Martín is a historic seafront restaurant on Málaga's Malagueta, a Grupo Gorki dining room for fried fish and sea views.
Los Mellizos ★ 4.1
Los Mellizos brings the family's Rincón de la Victoria seafood to central Málaga on Calle Sancha de Lara, all fried fish, clams and rice from the bay.
Marisquería Godoy ★ 4.2
Marisquería Godoy sits on Málaga's Muelle Uno, a portside seafood house serving fried fish, red Motril prawns and rice with the bay in full view.
El Tintero ★ 4.3
El Tintero is Málaga's singing-waiter chiringuito in El Palo, where fried fish and espetos are auctioned aloud and you grab plates as they fly past.
OrderWhatever the waiters are shouting: grab the fried fish as it passes
Pescaito Frito in Seville
Freiduria Puerta de la Carne ★ 4.2
Freiduría Puerta de la Carne has sold pescaito frito wrapped in paper since 1928, next to the Jardines de Murillo at Calle Puerta de la Carne 2.
TryPescaito frito, an assortment wrapped in paper
TipWebsite prices are for 250gr and 1kg, other items are priced per unit, and the prices at the shop on the day always prevail.
Casa Cuesta ★ 4.6
Casa Cuesta is a tapas bar at Calle Castilla 1, 41010 Sevilla, reached on +34 954 33 33 35.
Bodeguita Casablanca ★ 4.3
Bodeguita Casablanca at Calle Adolfo Rodriguez Jurado 12 serves traditional Andalusian cooking, with fried octopus and tortilla de patatas al whisky.
TipOrder the puntillitas al ajillo sautéed with baby broad beans, or the tortilla de patatas al whisky.
More cities are in research. Want pescaito frito covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.