Okay, is there anything more summery than corn fritters? The sweet corn in the market right now is amazing- plump, crunchy, sooo sweet. There is so much to enjoy about it all on its own, but to this corn I am adding a bunch of crab, jalapenos, Old Bay, and cayenne, and I’m serving them up with a not modest amount of avocado dip. Because, avocados. This could be the official dish of summer and California. I’ll admit, things start feeling a little rich after the fourteenth or fifteenth one. Cold beer or a well-chilled glass of lemonade can help.
After a year of pondering the whys behind all of our official food holidays, I have decided that on days like today I am just glad to have an excuse to add these to the table. Whoever came up with National Corn Fritter Day, be it a council or a marketing agency or some guy who really digs fried food, I thank you wholeheartedly. Not that I needed that much of an excuse, but I’m glad I had one.
Spicy Corn and Crab Fritters with Avocado Dip
For the fritters:
3 c. of fresh sweet corn (3 ears)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp cayenne
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 egg
3/4 cup 2% milk
4 oz. lump crab meat
1 green onion, green part removed, chopped
Peanut oil, enough to make fill a medium pot 3″ deep
Remove the corn from the cob. Pour the olive oil into a pan set over medium-high heat and saute the corn and jalapeno, stirring often. Once the corn is cooked to crisp-tender, remove from the heat and allow to cool a little.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and spices. Make a well in the center, pour in the egg and milk, and whisk until a smooth batter forms. Add the corn, crab meat and green onion and fold carefully so as not to break down the lumps of crab.
In a medium pot, heat the oil to 365F. Carefully drop ping pong ball-sized spoonfuls into the oil. Be cautious not to overcrowd the pot. Turn each fritter over after about three minutes, or once the submerged side becomes deep golden in color.
Remove the fritters from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with salt.
For the dip:
4 small (or two large) ripe avocados
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup sour cream
2-4 tsp fresh lemon juice
Pinch salt
A dash of Tabasco sauce
Place all of the ingredients in bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth.