Everything Fried Pickles with buttermilk ranch dip

On the short list of life skills I’m willing to boast about are these: my ability to watch any and every Liam Neeson and Denzel Washington movie (see: Taken 2 and Man on Fire), my willingness to fight for what is right in airplane armrest territory, and my eagerness to say, “Hey, let’s fry that!”.

This recipe falls under the ‘hey let’s fry that’ category though, for what it’s worth, I’m also typing this post with my arm firmly but politely planted on an airplane armrest that is under siege by a man who frankly, seems to know no better. I will fight this fight. 

We’re deep into these summer days which means we’ve settled into the concept of our bodies in bathing suits enough to just go back to eating some of the indulgent things we want to enjoy.  Enter: fried dill pickles. They’re sour and bright, crisps, exciting, and made downright clever with the addition of everything bagel seasoning. 

And lest you think you don’t like a warm pickle… think back to all the cheeseburgers that have at least one warm pickle in the center.  It’s a treasure.  Let’s proceed. 

Life skill: fry. 

Here’s what you need:

•  a jar of whole dill pickles and dry hands to open the jar, or someone else to open the jar, or the tap and twist technique.  Don’t get stuck.  I’m speaking from experience. 

•  flour and cornmeal – fine corneal, no need to be fancy. 

•  salt, pepper, sugar, and smoky paprika – for balance and spice. 

•  buttermilk and hot sauce to aide in dredging.  

•  yogurt and buttermilk, fresh herbs and garlic – for an unstoppable ranch dipping sauce. 

•  everything bagel seasoning- where would we be without it honestly?

•  of course you’ll need oil for frying along with gumption and enthusiasm. Quick note! You may even want to save the oil because I’ve got another fried recipe for you later this week! (Get excited – it’s chicken!)

Slice the pickles.  

1/2-inch rounds will do ya. 

When I fry things – and I really do love to fry things sohelpmegod – I think it’s important to season and flavor every layer of the recipe.  

See:  hot sauce in buttermilk.  A hint of heat, come through! 

Here’s the thing – if you like pickles enough to fry them, you’re going to have a hard time not snacking on all of the pickles before they make it into the fryer.  Just do the best you can.  No judgements. 

Toss the sliced pickles in the buttermilk and hot sauce mixture. 

The buttermilk will help the dry mix stick to the pickles.  

Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper, and a bit of smoky paprika for intrigue.  

Another trick to frying… listen, I’m trying to convert you.  

The trick is to prep your pans and gently heat the oil before you dredge and get your hands dirty. 

You’ll need a parchment lined pan to house the dredged pickles, a baking rack over a baking sheet to house the fried pickles, and a medium saucepan to house the hot hot oil.  Get it all going before hands get dirty because my goodness they will. 

The easiest way the completely dredge the pickles is with your fingers so hop on in! 

The better the pickles are coated, the more crisp they’ll cook.  

While the pickles fry in sweet little batches, bring together the ranch dip by first slicing fresh chives and fresh dill.  

Yogurt and buttermilk add all of the tang we need and we may even be able to argue that this part of the recipe is healthy.  WOW. 

Fresh garlic too, very well minced.  

Onion powder too.  Makes ranch, ranch – I promise.  

Fried to golden + crisp.  Sprinkled very generously with everything bagel seasoning.  Those sesame seeds and onion flakes, I tell ya – they make for a nice bite!

Served warm, these pickles are juicy and crisp, sour and savory, salty and well-seasoned – THEY ARE GEMS, I tell you! 

Photos with my dear Jon Melendez. 

Everything Fried Pickles with fresh yogurt ranch

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Ingredients

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For the Pickles:

• 1 jar whole dill pickles, sliced to 1/2-inch thick rounds
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon smoky paprika
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoons fresh cracked black pepper
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tablespoons hot sauce
• everything bagel seasoning
• vegetable or canola oil for frying

For the Yogurt Ranch:

• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Start by prepping your fry station and a few pans. Place vegetable oil in a medium pan about 2-inches deep. Place a fry thermometer on the edge of the pan. Place the pan over medium heat and start to bring it to 350 degrees F. Line one rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a cooling rack over a second rimmed baking sheet and set both aside.
2. Mix the dry ingredients together. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cornmeal, paprika, salt, pepper, and sugar. Set aside.
3. In another medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce. Add the sliced pickle rounds to the buttermilk mixture and stir to coat.
4. Working in small batches, transfer a few pickle slices from the buttermilk to the dry ingredient mixture. Use your fingers and toss to thoroughly coat. Transfer the coated pickles to the parchment lined baking sheet and continue until all the pickles are coated.
5. Again working in batches, add 6 to 8 dredged pickle rounds to the hot oil. Use a fry spider or slotted spoon to gently and carefully toss the pickles around the oil until golden brown – about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the hot oil, place on the rack-lined baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
6. Continue cooking the pickles in batches, bringing the oil back up to 350 degrees F in between batches. Sprinkle each batch with everything bagel spice.
7. To make the yogurt seasoning, in a small bowl stir together buttermilk, yogurt, garlic, onion powder, chives, dill, salt and pepper to taste. Taste and season more as you see fit.
8. Serve the yogurt sauce alongside the fried pickles with an extra side of hot sauce. Enjoy the same day they’re fried!

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