Sweet Corn Fritters with Jalapeño Jelly Recipe

Little snacky items such as fritters are great because you can create so many different flavor combinations. Whether done in a pan or fried crispy, the earthy sweetness of the corn and onions is countered nicely with the sweet-and-sour jalapeño jelly. To help balance that sweetness, I used a dry Dortmunder for both the fritters and the jelly.

Active preparation time: 15 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
Serves: 3–4

Jalapeño Jelly

1 cup (237 ml) Thirsty Dog’s Labrador Lager
½ cup (118 ml) water
½ cup sugar
1 cup (237 ml) lime juice
3 jalapeños, seeded and minced
2 oz (57 g) agar agar (a vegetarian gelatin substitute)

In a small saucepan, combine the beer, water, sugar, lime juice, and jalapeños. Bring to a boil. Stir in the agar agar and reduce the heat to a simmer for 1 minute. Pour the mixture into a shallow pan and let cool. Once cool, break up the jelly with a whisk and store until ready to use.

Fritters

2 Tbs (30 ml) olive oil
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup (59 ml) milk
1 egg
¼ cup (59 ml) Thirsty Dog Labrador Lager
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
½ cup green onion, minced
1 cup jalapeño jelly

In a sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the corn and onions and sauté for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a second mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and beer. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Fold in the corn-onion mixture, jalapeño, and green onions.

In a nonstick pan over medium heat, ladle ¼ cup (59 ml) of corn batter into the pan, spread thin, and cook through. These can also be fried like spoon dumplings if you have the ability to fry them. Allow to brown on one side and then flip to brown the other. Serve with the jalapeño jelly.

Beer Suggestions: Pair with the remaining Thirsty Dog Labrador Lager (Akron, Ohio). Also try Great Lakes Brewing Company Dortmunder Gold (Cleveland, Ohio) or 3 Floyds Jinx Proof (Munster, Indiana).

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PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER CINA