Breaded Fried Mushrooms - Smažené žampióny

Crispy breaded mushrooms fried to golden perfection. A popular Czech snack served with tartar sauce.

Prep for 2 servings: 30 minutes
Frying: 25 minutes
Total time: 55 minute

Serves 2:
8 oz (225g) white mushrooms
Salt for mushrooms
1 egg
1/4 cup (35g) all purpose flour
pinch of salt
1/4 cup (60ml) milk
1 1/2 cups (180g) plain breadcrumbs
Oil for frying

Serves 4:
16 oz (450g) white mushrooms
Salt for mushrooms
2 eggs
1/2 cup (70g) all purpose flour
pinch of salt
1/2 cup (120ml) milk
3 cups (320g) plain breadcrumbs
Oil for frying

Directions:

Wash 8 oz of mushrooms very well. (If it is possible I like to remove the top skin, oftentimes it comes off by just rubbing it with my thumb.)
Cut them into desired size. (Smaller ones I keep whole, others I cut in half or thirds.)
Put little bit of salt on each piece from both sides and set them on the board. (They will start to release the moisture, but that is ok.)
To make a batter: Into a medium sized bowl add 1 egg, pinch of salt and whisk it together. Add 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/4 cup milk. Whisk everything together, breaking any flour and egg chunks.
Into a larger container add 1 1/2 cups plain breadcrumbs. (I use glass pie dish.)
Add few salted mushrooms into the batter, cover them very good from all sides, pick each up with the fork and let the access batter drip off. Then transfer each into the breadcrumbs and immediately cover them. Gently press the breaded mushroom to let the breadcrumbs stick very good. Transfer into another wooden board or large plate.
Into a smaller pot add about an inch (2.5cm) of frying oil. Turn the heat to medium high.
(To know when the oil is hot enough I rip little piece of breading and add it into the oil. When the piece comes to the surface and has plenty of bubbles around it, oil is hot enough.)
Prepare a pot with the lid and few napkins to soak up the access oil.
Add the mushrooms into the hot oil. Not overlapping them. Fry until golden brown. It takes about 3-4 minutes. Turn them if necessarily to insure equal frying. Transfer fried mushrooms into the prepared pot with napkins.
Pair with crushed potatoes and homemade tartar sauce.