Corn Fritters with Green Sauce
Makes 18 small fritters

Finished Fritters in a very low light!

More like beignets than classic fritters, these crunchy, zippy tasting wonders show off the sweetness of fresh corn and make fabulous hors d‘oeuvres or side complements to grilled seafood, poultry or meat.  Pair with Chorizo Empanadasfor a great hot weather taste combination.

Ingredients

5 ears fresh corn, husks removed and kernels cut from cobs
½ cup corn juice
1 pinch granulated sugar
½ cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tbs. minced fresh mint
¼ cup minced red onion
Juice from 1 small or ½ large fresh lime
2 tbs. Salsa Verde (medium heat)
Green Tabasco Sauce to taste
1 egg, beaten with whisk or fork
½ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup cornmeal (not polenta)
1 tsp. baking powder
Canola oil for frying

Green Sauce

Fresh, spicy green sauce

2 tbs. Salsa Verde
2 tbs. minced fresh cilantro
Juice from 1 small or ½ large fresh lime
Green Tabasco to taste

Procedure

1. Put 1 cup corn kernels in a medium size mixing bowl. Set aside.
2. Process remaining kernels until they are pureed. Strain through a fine sieve into a measuring cup or small bowl.
   

   Strain the pureed fresh corn, pressing to remove as much juice as possible.

   Press as much liquid as you can from the pureed corn.

   

   Fresh Corn Juice

   Add sugar to liquid, and then add corn liquid to the kernels in the mixing bowl.

3. Add cilantro, mint, onion, lime juice and salsa verde. Mix together. Add Green Tabasco to taste. Mix in beaten egg.
4. Mix dry ingredients together and then mix into the other mixed ingredients. Set batter aside. The batter should be able to drop easily rather then pour from a spoon. Add more liquid or flour to correct the consistency.
5. Make Green Sauce and set it aside.
6. Pour enough oil in a heavy fry pan to reach 1” height. Heat over medium heat until a drop of batter bubbles immediately but does not smoke. Drop about 2 tbs. batter into oil for each fritter. Fill the pan but don’t let the fritters touch. Turn each fritter when the bottom is browned, about 1½ minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to drain on paper towel covered pan or plate. Keep warm in 250” oven until all fritters are cooked.
7. Serve immediately with Green Sauce.