Veggie Fritters With Southern Chive Dip Food

SPICY EDAMAME DIP

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, roast the garlic, turning frequently, until light brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool, and then slip off the skins. Set aside.
• Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan and drop in the beans. Bring back to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking water before draining. Drain the beans and cool.
• Transfer the garlic into a food processor and chop coarsely. Add the beans, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, pepper and process in the food processor. Add the olive oil, lime juice and cilantro and pulse to combine. Add the reserved water a little at a time while processing until smooth (you may not need to add all of the water). Use pita chips for dipping.

VEGETABLE FRITTERS WITH CHICK PEA BATTER

Steps:

• Mix flour and dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add 3/4 cup water and stir to combine. Gradually add more water until mixture is thick enough to coat a finger. Stir in peanut oil. The batter may be made up to 2 hours in advance.
• To make fritters, heat oil in a large saucepan to deep-fry temperature (350 degrees F). Dip vegetables, one at a time into the batter and fry until deep brown, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with Mint and Cilantro Chutney, Yogurt Sauce, and soy sauce for dipping.

CRUDITE CHRISTMAS TREE WITH SOUR CREAM AND CHIVE DIP

Steps:

• For the dip: Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, lemon juice, lemon zest, granulated garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a generous grinding of black pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Process until well combined and smooth. Transfer the dip to a medium bowl and fold in the chives and parsley. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water. Add the broccoli to the boiling water and blanch until bright green and crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a strainer to the ice bath. Repeat with the cauliflower. Drain the vegetables well and pat them very dry.
• To build the tree, make a triangle of broccoli florets in the center of a serving platter. Place the cucumber piece, skin side up, at the base of the tree as a stump and scatter the cauliflower on either side. Decorate the tree with tomatoes, cucumber slices and pepper strips and stars, leaving one star for the top.

VEGETABLE FRITTERS WITH HERBED CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• For the fritters: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until fully incorporated. Whisk in the zaatar and garlic powder.
• Add the onion, cauliflower, carrot and zucchini to the batter and mix well so that all the vegetables are well coated in batter.
• In a medium skillet, heat 3 to 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan) over medium-high heat.
• Scoop 1 to 2 heaping spoonfuls of fritter batter into the oil and allow to spread and lace out. Cook on one side until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes, then flip with a fish spatula or pancake turner and brown on the second side, 1 to 2 minutes. (Make sure to flip the fritters away from you so you don't splash hot oil onto yourself.) Remove the finished fritters to a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack to drain. Continue with the rest of the batter.
• For the herbed creme fraiche: Combine the creme fraiche, salt, chives and dill in a small bowl. Fold in the lemon zest.
• Serve the fritters with the sauce and garnish with more fresh mint leaves, dill and chives.