(what's your favorite?)
Back when the bars were open and everyone went out for drinks after work I made a stunning discovery, one that isn't new but for some reason I missed it. That discovery is...Fried Pickles are fucking delicious! Of all the pub/bar snacks you can have as an appetizer this salt, crispy, juicy treat is better than the forever famous mozzarella sticks and fries (although I will still order those too). In honor of National Pickle Day, Saturday, November 14th, I’ve decided to share my take on these bad boys and as a bonus include a few other bar snacks you can easily make at home. Enjoy foodie fam!
Fried Pickles It took a while to get these right so read closely. The best way to coat and fry these bad boys is with a beer/fish batter and dill kosher pickles. Make sure you get the seasonings in there too.
Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat until hot. Simultaneously in a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon (each) of salt, pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper, and mix until blended. Add in a half cup of beer and mix until the batter becomes smooth.
Take your pickle slices, drain and dry them, then add your slices (as many as you fucking want) to the batter and coat evenly. Place them in the heated oil, making sure to not crowd the pan, and cook on both sides 2-3 minutes. Remove and lightly salt. Serve with ranch, mayo, or whatever the hell you want.
Jerk Sliders Sliders are delicious and pretty standard to make but with the addition of some jerk seasoning, you can create an explosion of flavors that will take your snack game up a notch.
Heat your oven to 425 Farenheight. While that's heating, take 2lbs of ground beef and mix 1 egg, 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, 3 tablespoons of jerk seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of salts & pepper. Once blended, form small round patties and place them on a thin baking sheet.
Pop the sliders in the oven and cook for about 15-16 mins before adding cheese and any other toppings you'd like (red onion, peppers, mushrooms) and cook for another 5 minutes until done. Serve up on some sweet rolls for an epic blend of sweet and savory.
Cauliflower Bites Vegetarian? No problem. This recipe is the same as my bites but with that oh so utilized veggie as a substitute.
Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat until hot. Take your cauliflower head, wash and dry and chop into bitesize pieces. In a mixing bowl, add 1 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon (each) of salt, pepper, garlic, and cajun seasoning, and mix until blended. Add in a 1/2 cup of water or veggie stock to make a batter and mix until smooth.
Add your cauliflower bites to the batter and one by one place them in the frying pan to cook until golden brown. About 3-4 mins each side. Remove and drain excess oil.
For the sauce, you'll need 1 cup of sriracha, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, pepper, and sugar. Bring to a boil in a small saucepan then reduce to a simmer stirring constantly until blended. Pour over the bites and toss until coated. Boom. Eat that shit up.
Buffalo Bites Spice, spice, and more spice with a blast of protein is the way to go with this bar classic. Try my beer-battered version with a Sriracha based hot sauce.
Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat until hot. Take 2 large chicken breasts and cut into cubes. Season the cubes with pinches of salt, pepper, and garlic, and saute in a separate frying pan until all sides are brown. In a mixing bowl, add 1 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon (each) of salt, pepper, garlic, and cajun seasoning, and mix until blended. Add in a 1/2 cup of water or veggie stock to make a batter and mix until smooth.
Add your chicken to the batter and one by one place them in the frying pan to cook until golden brown. About 5 mins each side. Remove and drain excess oil.
For the sauce, you'll need 1 cup of sriracha, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, pepper, and sugar. Bring to a boil in a small saucepan then reduce to a simmer stirring constantly until blended. Pour over the bites and toss until coated. Boom. Eat that shit up.