I think maybe I can see into my future. Well, I can see into my future if my future involves me being pregnant.
If I’m ever a pregnant Joy the Baker… oh sweet lordy… God help us all.
I’ll totally be one of those pickles and ice cream women. I’ll also be a marshmallow and peanut butter woman. …and maybe a pizza and taffy kind of lady.
It’s the future. I can feel it.
I hope and pray that pregnant Joy the Baker is also still into kale and quinoa.
Thank goodness that’s all a long way away.
In the meantime… I’ll just turn pickles into fries and pretend the yogurt dipping sauce is actually vanilla bean ice cream.
This is what a typical pickle shoot looks like. Totally normal. Nothing to see here.
I should tell you now that this is a double battered, fried pickle situation.
First the cornichons are bathed in a beaten egg with mustard and hot sauce.
mmm hmm.
A dusting of seasoned flour… then back to the egg bath!
The extra egg bath makes the panko bread crumbs stick like glue.Well… delicious glue.
These darlings are ready for the fryer (and ready for a hot date with an ice cream cone).
Hot from the fryer! These fried pickles are warm with a hint of spice. They’re salty, crunchy, and unreasonably comforting. It’s weird magic.
I paired these pickle fries with a super simple cumin yogurt dip. Cumin, yogurt, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. I dunno… why not fake your way into some health with yogurt dip for your fried indulgence. mm hmm. Divine.
I know we’re supposed to be eating cranberries and slice and bake sugar cookies… but I just couldn’t help myself with these fries.
If you’re feeling the spirit, you might consider this Honey Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread.
If you’re feeling more pickled, you might consider this amazing Potato Chip and Pickle Sandwich.
Pickle Fries
serves 2
For the Fries:
18-24 small cornichon pickles
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 dashes of hot sauce
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
pinch of salt
1 cup panko bread crumbs
pinch of salt
coarse ground black pepper
canola oil for frying
For the Dipping Sauce:
3/4 cup 2% Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
pinch of salt
fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (or more to taste)
a splash of water
First prepare the dipping sauce. In a small bowl, mix together yogurt, mustard, salt, pepper, cumin and a splash of water. Set in the fridge until ready to use.
To make the fries, you’ll need three small bowls. In one bowl beat the egg with Dijon mustard and hot sauce. In a second small bowl combine flour , pinch of salt, and red pepper flakes. In a third small bowl, combine panko bread crumbs pinch of salt, and black pepper.
Heat about 1/2-inch oil in a frying pan. Heat over medium-low flame. Test the oil heat by tossing in a few bread crumbs to make sure they brown well. If oil is too hot it will smoke. You shouldn’t have this problem over a medium/medium-low flame, but if you do, just turn off the heat.
Dip pickles in the egg mixture. Transfer to the flour mixture to lightly coat. Transfer back to the egg mixture, then finally to the panko mixture to coat thoroughly. Transfer coated fries to the fryer, cooking until golden brown on all sides.
Transfer fries to a paper towel to drain and cool slightly before serving with dipping sauce. Fries are best served warm.
judith
Well… you said that you wanted to fry something. This is the perfect thing to fry. I LOVE fried pickles! Never had these little gems. I’ll have to try them.
Katie
I am strangely drawn to this idea and repelled at the same time… I will have to make them to find out, I guess!
Catherine
Funny…I had a dream I was pregnant last night.
it was sooooo odd. no cravings, though.
Pam D
For when you’re pregnant, dill pickles dipped in Hershey’s syrup. A neighbor of my parent’s ate this when she was pregnant and got all us kids eating it too!
Mavis
Holy fried pickles! These are one of my new favorite bar foods, and making them with cornichons is genius! I love the double batter dip :) Who’s counting calories? It’s the holidays!
lynsimarie
OH my goodness. Joy, I love you. I’m pregnant, and these look absolutely DELICIOUS!!! This is important to me, because I have terrible morning sickness (24/7 sickness, actually), and I hate food right now… I’m putting these on my wish list of scrumptious recipes for hubby to make for me while I lay on the couch!
Bek
Ohhhh dear.
I used to despise pickles. Now I’m pregnant and I was sure that I wouldn’t one of those ‘pickle cravers’.
Until a few weeks ago I found myself in the pickle section of the supermarket- licking my lips.
This recipe has sealed the deal for me and pickles. We’re friends now.
Thanks Joy, can’t wait to fry them up!
Gen
How original! Would be nice for an aperitif!
soo
GAH! you are beyond adorable and i love your blog! if you have a store you should expand it to new york =P…srlsy expand it to new york
i made most of the baked goods recipe from your blog and every time i bring it to school for taste my peers love em! and they came out better than i expected!
Kath
Love these photos – so crisp! Especially love the kitty one :)
Briel K.
Joy, those look YUMMY!
It was great to meet you on Sunday. I had a lot of fun in the class and everyone at work LOVED the cake! Hopefully I’ll be able to take the next one in the spring! :)
Adrienne
Ohhhh my goodness! Definitely going to have to make these bad boys….! They look De…LISH!
nicole {sweet peony}
um i hope you saved some of those for me! i loooove fried pickles but i’ve only had them as pickle chips. you pickle fries look unbelievable! i totally love you for posting this in december amidst all of the festive baking! xoxo
Jerilyn
How funny! We totally talked about fried pickles on the podcast last week. Weird magic. These look super yum.
LB
Be still my heart…I’m pretty sure theres nothing I love more than a fried pickle. I make them at home all the time and order them whenever they are on a menu! Ranch dressing on the side and I’m in heaven. I use dill chips but will have to experiment with these little guys! Yum!