Have you ever not tried making something at home because you thought it would be way too complicated to make? Well, for me I always try and avoid fried foods because not only do I not have a deep fryer, but when I think of frying the first word that comes to mind is painful; the reason why I think frying is going to be painful is because sometimes when I cook chicken stovetop oil pops and hits my arms, so I figure that if I’m going to get burned cooking chicken I would definitely get burned frying! If you’ve thought this before, or if you haven’t and are only now turned off by the idea getting burned, I am here to tell you that it’s not going to happen…well it might happen, but I wouldn’t stress out about it too much because so far I’m 1 for 1 in not getting burned when frying foods!
Do you have that one food that no matter where you go you always order it? Well, for me that’s fried pickle chips. This is my one and only go-to appetizer that I cannot get enough of. The fried outside and sweet inside complimented by a hot kick that only horse radish can provide is the ultimate finger food for me. If I'm in the mood for a cheeseburger, tuna melt or chicken parm, fried pickle chips is always a good starter. I love how well over a couple dozen are served and after each and every one I can decide whether or not I’m going to have another, which naturally I do until I cannot have another…which I respond with having just one more. I’ve had my share of fried pickle chips, not to be confused with a pickle that is fried whole, but I’ve never taken the time to make them, until now!
The fried outside and sweet inside is complimented by a hot kick that
only horse radish can provide is the ultimate finger food!
Beer Battered Fried Pickle Chips
Nothing is worse than when you go out to eat with a group of people and someone says, “Let’s order an appetizer” and then no one can agree which one to get. Nothing is more painful than mulling over the same three appetizers that the group has narrowed down the choices to and after the waiter walks by to see if you’re ready you turn him away not once, but twice, at which point you probably could have already been eating! Luckily for me, I have yet to go out with a group of people who do not enjoy fried pickle chips. Sure I have been with people who have never tried them, but after you convince them to try it they instantly fall in love with them…at which point you wish they didn’t like them just so you can have more of them yourself!
My family loves fried pickle chips so much that when I said I wanted to cook something my mother suggested I make beer battered fried pickle chips. Well, it wasn’t really a suggested; it was more of: “If you’re going to cook it better be this because I’m craving it and if you don’t make it then I’m going to keep on suggesting you make it until you do!” To be honest, I was quite nervous about making them because I had never done so before and I did not want them to come out poorly. Sure cooking is a process and if you make a mistake you should learn from it, but nothing burns more than someone saying you cannot cook because after one failed attempt at making a dish someone loves. This is why if you know you are going to a cookout in a couple of weeks you make the dish you have planned for the cookout for your family a week earlier. Not only do they have to eat it, or not depending on how bad it is, but you’ll see what you can do differently for next time when you’re trying to impress everyone. Luckily for me my mother loved the beer battered fried pickle chips. How did I know you might ask; well, I gave her a plate with 18 of them expecting for us all to share and by the time I out the next pickles in to fry they were all gone! I looked over at her and as I was laughing I said "I take it they were good?" and she said "Feel free to make those any time you wish" as she took a sip of beer.
When in doubt, just make it! You’ll never know if you can make something until you actually try and make it. By trying things you’ll learn techniques and the dos and don’ts of the kitchen. Believe it or not, before too long you’ll find yourself tackling even the most daunting dishes which will, in time, become less and less daunting with each attempt. One thing I learned from making this dish that I would like to share with you is how versatile everyday cookware can be. For example, why buy a strainer especially designed for taking out and draining fried foods when a strainer that is typically used for sugar and flour will do just fine. Also, if you’re trying to fry when it’s 80 degrees or more trying cooking outside (luckily for me my grill has a stove stop side attachment).
Beer Battered Fried Pickle Chips
Serves: 8 people
Ingredients
2 cups vegetable oil for frying
1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle Ale
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 pinch seasoned salt
½ (16 ounce) Hamburger/Dill Pickles
Directions
1. Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees.
2. Whisk together the beer, ½ cups flour, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and seasoned salt in large bowl.
3. Dip the pickle slices into the beer batter, then coat them in the remaining ½ cups flour.
4. Fry the pickles in the preheated oil until golden and crispy, about 5 minutes.
Personal Notes
-The darker the ale the more bold the flavor
-I halved the recipe and it was more than enough for 4 people
-After putting the pickles in the oil three different times the oil becomes very dirty
Posted on 7/13/14 by Efrain