Fried Breaded Veggies Recipes

DEEP FRIED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oil in large, thick bottom pot or fryer, on medium-high heat.
• Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl, add liquids, and carefully stir together.
• Dip veggies into batter and drop into hot oil, cooking until golden brown.
• Remove and allow to drain over paper towel-covered plate, then serve while hot.
• The Fat content under Nutritional attributes will be falsely high, as most of the oil drains away, and is not consumed.

PANKO-FRIED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put at least 2 inches oil in a large, deep pot over medium-high heat; bring to 350 degrees (or use an electric deep-fryer). Combine the flour with 2 cups cold water; the mixture should have the consistency of thin pancake batter.
• Powder the panko by forcing it through a strainer with a spatula or pulverizing it in a blender or food processor. Dredge the vegetables first in flour, then in the tempura batter and finally in the powdered panko. Fry the vegetables in the hot oil, working in batches and turning each piece as necessary, until crisp and brown all over, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce and ginger in a small bowl. Mix flour, chicken broth, and water in another bowl.
• Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat; cook and stir peppers, carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms until just tender, about 3 minutes.
• Toss vegetables with soy sauce mixture; cook and stir for 1 minute. Gradually stir flour mixture into vegetables; bring to a boil and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.

FRIED BREADED VEGGIES

Steps:

• In a large, shallow bowl (or in a paper bag, if you prefer that method of breading), combine flour, cornmeal, 1 Tsp garlic, 1/2 Tsp Italian seasoning, basil, 1/2 Tsp Creole seasoning, 1 Tsp salt, 1/2 Tsp pepper, and optional cayenne pepper, if using.
• In a smaller shallow bowl, combine eggs and remaining seasonings.
• To prepare veggies, wash, drain, and pat everything dry.
• If fixing green tomatoes, press them between pieces of paper towel to help drain their juice, and allow to drain for 10-15 minutes, turning half way through.
• If preparing okra, cut off ends and slice into about 3/4" long pieces.
• Place in a small bowl, cover completely with buttermilk, and stir until well coated.
• Allow to soak for at least 15 minutes before draining, stirring once.
• The drained buttermilk can then be used for pre-coating the remaining veggies; it will not affect their flavor, and I think the okra slime helps make everything adhere.
• I like everything else sliced about 3/8" thick, lengthwise or crosswise, as desired, size depending on whether they are being pan fried or deep fried.
• The squash and eggplant can also be cut in 1/2"x1/2"x3-4" batons if desired.
• I do not salt and drain my eggplant; I have found that it does nothing to decrease bitterness and only helps to make them come out soggy.
• If you want to really freak some people out, cut a couple real good, crisp dill pickles in 1/2" thick crosswise slices, pat them real dry, and bread and cook them along with the other veggies.
• Toss all veggies, except already soaked okra, with buttermilk to coat, and allow to drain in a colander while you are doing the breading.
• Set out egg wash and breading, and cover a tray or baking sheet that will fit in your fridge with wax paper.
• Shake excess buttermilk off of a handful of veggies, and coat lightly with breading, then coat with egg wash, letting excess drain off, and return to breading, turning and pressing to help it adhere.
• Transfer veggies to the tray as they are coated, and repeat with remaining veggies.
• I usually keep them separated by type or size.
• If timing permits, sprinkle with some of the remaining breading, especially on damp looking spots, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to help make breading adhere.
• If desired, sift any remaining breading, and store in the fridge or refrigerator for next time.
• If timing does not permit, start frying as soon as the oil is hot.
• Veggies can be deep fried or pan fried; the choice is yours; the only thing to remember is that the squash and eggplant are both like sponges, especially if your oil is not hot enough.
• I prefer to pan fry mine in about 1/4" or less of oil (measured before adding veggies), adding more between batches as needed.
• I usually use 2-3 large skillets for frying, since these are best as fresh out of the pan as possible.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels for draining the cooked veggies, and place in a preheated 200-225 degF oven, add oil to skillet (s), and heat to about 375 degF (shimmering and almost smoking) over medium heat.
• Add breaded veggies to oil, and fry on first side for about 2 minutes, without disturbing except to gently shake skillet to ensure they are not sticking.
• When light golden brown, turn veggies, and repeat for the second side.
• It helps to have an assistant during this phase, if you have one with whom you can work.
• Transfer veggies to the lined baking sheet as they finish cooking to a light golden brown, and if desired, lightly salt them immediately after they come out of the oil.
• Serve immediately, of keep them warm while you fry the next batch (es).
• The browned breading left from the first batch CAN be left in the skillet while cooking a second batch without affecting flavor or looks, but if you are a purist, or if you are doing more than 2 batches, before starting to cook, place a fine strainer over a CLEAN, DRY metal can, and strain and reuse the oil, wiping out skillet (s) after each batch.
• You can also just dump the oil, carefully wipe out the skillet, and start each batch with fresh oil, but make sure that oil had heated to 375 degF (shimmering and almost smoking) before adding the next batch of veggies.
• If deep frying, heat oil to 375 degF as measured on a frying thermometer, and drop 6-8 pieces into the hot oil, less if this crowds them.
• Let cook undisturbed for at least 30-40 seconds to keep from tearing of crust.
• Gently turn, and keep turning about once a minute, until golden brown on all sides.
• Drain, season, and keep warm as noted above.
• Let oil reheat to 375OF before frying next batch.
• A neat trick to use if your deep fryer has a basket is to NOT put the veggies in the basket; put them directly in the oil, and after they have fried for 30-40 seconds, gently place the basket on top of them to hold them submerged-- no turning needed.
• Serve hot, just plain, or with ketchup, tartar sauce, lemon wedges, whatever sounds good to you.
• It you have leftovers, allow them to COOL COMPLETELY before bagging and storing.
• I prefer to let them cool on a wire rack or laying up against one another so air can circulate to the bottom side to prevent sogginess.
• To reheat, place on a perforated pan or on a wire rack over a baking sheet, and reheat in a preheated 300 degF for 10-15 minutes, or until hot and crisp.

FRIED BREAD TWO WAYS

Steps:

• Add the yeast, granulated sugar, salt and 3 cups of the flour to the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk to combine and to break up any lumps of flour. Add the water and use a spatula to begin to mix the ingredients. Add the melted butter and the remaining 3 cups of flour and mix again until a very shaggy dough forms. Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the dough hook. Knead the dough on medium-low until all the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl and is elastic and soft to the touch, about 7 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the mixer and divide into 2 pieces. Add one half back to the mixer bowl and add the other half to a large glass bowl. Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the dough in the glass bowl; turn it once to coat and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
• Add the rosemary to the dough in the mixer. Turn the mixer on and knead until the rosemary is evenly incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the dough from the mixer and place it in a separate large glass bowl. Drizzle it with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil; turn it once to coat and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Allow both doughs to proof in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• After the dough has doubled in size, fill a large Dutch oven, fitted with a deep-fry thermometer, with about 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat to 360 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and two rimmed baking sheets with wire racks. Set aside.
• To assemble the Parmesan-rosemary dough balls, use your thumb and index finger to pinch off about 2 tablespoons of dough. Place a cube of Parmesan in the center and close the dough around it, pinching the seam to seal it. Place it seam side down on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue the process with the remaining rosemary dough and Parmesan. Set aside the finished dough balls.
• To assemble the jam-filled dough balls, use your thumb and index finger to pinch off 2 to 3 tablespoons of dough. Flatten the dough slightly, then spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the jam into the center of the dough. Carefully pull the edges of dough up and over the jam, pinching the seam to seal it, making sure to leave no jam exposed. Place it seam side down on the second parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue the process with the remaining dough and jam.
• When the oil is at 360 degrees F, carefully lower 5 to 6 Parmesan-rosemary dough balls into the hot oil. Fry, turning as needed until golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a wire rack-lined baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with salt. Fry the remaining Parmesan-rosemary dough balls, allowing the oil to come back up to temperature before adding another batch. Serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Top with freshly grated Parmesan before serving.
• To fry the jam-filled dough, carefully lower 5 to 6 dough balls into the hot oil Fry, turning as needed until golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to the second wire rack-lined baking sheet. Fry the remaining jam-filled dough balls, allowing the oil to come back up to temperature before adding another batch. Serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Top with confectioners' sugar before serving.

BREADED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Dip veggies into egg whites, then into bread crumbs, coating both sides.
• Place on large cookie sheets lines with aluminum foil and sprayed with cooking spray.
• Cook about 7-8 minutes and turn veggies over with fork.
• Spray the veggies and cook 7-8 minutes, until brown and crispy.
• Super good, my favorites are the onoins and the zucchini.
• The onions taste just like onion rings!

OVEN-FRIED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Spray a baking sheet with nonstick coating.
• Set aside.
• In a 9-inch pie plate stir together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and paprika until well mixed.
• In a medium mixing bowl place the vegetable slices.
• Drizzle vegetables with salad dressing; toss until coated.
• Place the coated vegetables in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake vegetables in a 450 degree oven for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

FRIED BREAD CRUMB TOPPING FOR VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Melt butter in a pan.
• Watch carefully for butter to turn brown.
• Remove from heat.
• Add breadcrumbs and stir until well blended.
• Sprinkle over cooked, drained vegetables.