Fried Smelts with Chipotle Lime Mayonnaise

This is smelt heaven!  If you fry with a quality, healthy unsaturated oil then fried food is not bad for your health!  (Never deep fry with olive oil.  Olive oil smokes and burns at high temperatures.)
     Recipe:  Dredge boned smelts in flour.  Dip the smelts in an egg wash.  Toss the smelts in bread crumbs that are seasoned with sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, dried sage and garlic powder.
     Fry the lightly breaded smelts in small batches in 360 degree oil till golden.  Drain the excess oil from the smelts on a towel.
     Chipotle Lime Mayonnaise Recipe:  Mix mayonnaise, dark chipotle hot sauce, cumin, white pepper, paprika, sea salt and a squeeze of lime juice together.  Place the chipotle lime mayonnaise in a ramekin.
     Set the smelts on top of a piece of leafy lettuce on the plate and set the ramekin of sauce garnished with sliced green onion next to them.
     It is like chipotle lime mayonnaise was made for smelts!  The flavor combination is so good!  This is one great plate of finger food!  Yum!  ...   Shawna