Fiesta Fritters Recipes

FESTIVE FRITTERS

Steps:

• Cut store-bought pie dough into holiday shapes and fry in 350 degree vegetable oil until golden. Cool on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar.

AIR-FRYER FIESTA CHICKEN FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 400°. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut into 1-in. wide strips., In a shallow bowl, whisk buttermilk and pepper. Place flour in a separate shallow bowl. Mix corn chips and taco seasoning in a third bowl. Dip chicken in flour to coat both sides; shake off excess. Dip in buttermilk mixture, then in corn chip mixture, patting to help coating adhere., In batches, arrange chicken in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until coating is golden brown and chicken is no longer pink, 7-8 minutes on each side. Repeat with remaining chicken. Serve with ranch dip or salsa.

FRIJOLES DE FIESTA (FIESTA REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a large pot and cover with 14 cups water. Add the onion and set over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, skim off any foam that may have risen to the top, partly cover with a lid and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid, stir in salt, partly cover with the lid, and cook for another 15 to 30 more minutes, until beans are completely cooked through and tender and the liquid is tinted from the pinto beans.
• Meanwhile, place the dried chiles in a small saucepan, cover with water and set over high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until chiles have rehydrated, softened and plumped up.
• Remove the lid on the beans, and, using a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs, discard the onion.
• Working in batches if needed, add the cooked beans along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, the dried chiles, the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce to a blender or food processor, and pulse until the mixture forms a coarse purée.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy casserole or sauté pan set over medium. Once hot but not smoking, carefully add the bean purée, as it will strongly sizzle and splatter. Stir well, incorporating the hot oil into the bean mixture. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan as the refried beans continuously attempt to create a crust, until the mixture thickens.
• Stir in the grated cheese, and continue to cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom and the sides, until the mixture thickens to a thick purée that holds its shape, and a clear trail can be traced in the bottom of the pan.
• When ready to serve, scrape into a bowl and garnish with the crumbled Cotija. Beans will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a saucepan or skillet with a couple tablespoons of water over medium and mash as they warm up, since they have a tendency to thicken once chilled.

FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, egg yolk, beer, peanut oil, and salt. Transfer mixture to refrigerator; let chill 30 minutes.
• Add enough oil to a deep, heavy-bottomed pot to reach a depth of 5 inches. Heat oil until it reaches 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites until foamy. Add sugar and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into chilled mixture.
• Dip fruit into batter and immediately transfer to hot oil. Fry until golden. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and serve immediately.

FIESTA FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, fold together potatoes, corn, black beans, eggs, green onions, taco seasoning, corn meal, salt and pepper until well combined.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Form fritter mixture into golf-ball sized fritters and set on lined baking sheet.
• Chill fritters in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• In a large skillet or cast-iron pan, heat oil until hot enough for frying, about 375 degrees.
• Fry fritters in batches until golden brown and cooked through (about 2 minutes each side), and drain on paper towels.
• Serve as a side dish, or with salsa as an appetizer.