New Orleans Style Choux Fritters Recipes

CALAS FRIED RICE FRITTERS

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the rice, stir once, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pan, cooking 18 to 20 minutes or until the grains of rice are plump and fluff apart with a fork. Turn the rice out onto a parchment paper--lined baking sheet and cool for 15 minutes, then transfer to a plastic container (don't pack it in). Cover with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the top. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.
• Pour enough peanut oil into a large pot to fill it to a 2 1/2- to 3-inch depth and bring to a temperature between 350°F and 360°F over medium heat. Line a plate with paper towels and set aside.
• While the oil heats up, place the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla on high speed until foamy and tripled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Sift in half of the dry ingredients, add the salt, and mix on low speed until only a few dry streaks remain. Sift in the remaining dry ingredients and mix on low speed for a few turns, then add the rice and mix until the fritter batter just comes together into a loose, roughly textured ball.
• Once your oil is hot, dip a teaspoon in the hot oil, then into the batter and scoop out a heaping teaspoonful. Hold the spoon close to the oil and let the batter roll off and into the oil. Repeat with the remaining batter; using a slotted spoon, turn and baste the fritters occasionally, allowing them to become golden brown on all sides. (Fry the fritters in two batches if your pot becomes overcrowded.) If the temperature of the oil dips below 350°F, increase the heat to medium-high. Once the fritters are golden brown, transfer them to the prepared plate to cool slightly. Serve on a small plate drizzled with lots of cane syrup.

NEW ORLEANS' STYLE CHOUX FRITTERS

Steps:

• *Melt butter in boiling water, add salt and flour and beat vigorously by hand. Remove from heat as soon as mixture leaves side of pan (this will only take a few seconds.). *For best results use a non-stick pan.
• Transfer mixture to bowl. Cool slightly.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
• Heat about 3/4 cup of oil in a tall, narrow pan to 375 degrees. Dip a tablespoon into the oil first to coat, then into the batter.
• Carefully drop tablespoonfuls of batter into the hot oil and fry until brown on all sides and fritters are about the size of a small egg. Only cook about 3 or 4 fritters at one time making sure not to overcrowd.
• With slotted spoon, remove fritters from oil and drain on paper towel.
• Roll in granulated sugar and serve hot. Crank up the Clifton Chenier music to high volume and enjoy the fritters! Aieeee!

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE GRITS AND GRILLADES

Steps:

• Cut tenderloin into 12 cutlets, place each between sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a mallet until very thin, about 1/8 inch. In a small dish, mix 1 cup of the flour with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Lightly dust each cutlet on both sides, set aside on a plate. Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and sauté cutlets in batches of 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute on each side. Repeat with remaining oil and cutlets. In same skillet, cook bacon. Transfer bacon to a paper-lined plate, keeping bacon fat in skillet. Reduce heat, whisk in remaining flour. Simmer and stir continuously until roux becomes light brown, about 10 minutes. Add bell peppers, onion and garlic and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Carefully whisk in remaining salt and pepper, Creole spice, cumin, paprika and bay leaves. Next, whisk in stock and tomato. Bring sauce to a simmer, and cook on low for 10 minutes, skimming off excess fat. Strain sauce through a sieve and then return to skillet; warm pork cutlets in sauce.
• Make the Grits: Scald milk (skin forms on top). Whisk in grits and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, whisking again now and then. Whisk in butter, cream, salt and pepper. Cover and remove from heat. It will stay hot for about 15 or 20 minutes, covered.