Fried Pickles with Spicy Dipping Sauce
When you buy a cucumber in the grocery store, you have a couple of choices. I usually pick an English (or hot house) cucumber because these have fewer seeds, making them perfect for salads. They also come in a miniature form, which are terrific for pickling. Once they’re pickled, they are even better fried. Take a look!
Serves: a crowd | Total Time: 30 minutes till it’s ready
Ingredients
Spicy Dipping Sauce
- For Sauce:
- • ½ cup mayonnaise
- • 2 tablespoons chili sauce
- • 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
- • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- • ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
Pickles and Breading
- For Pickles:
- • 1 large jar whole dill pickles, drained
- • ½ cup all-purpose flour
- • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- • ½ cup buttermilk
- • vegetable (or peanut) oil for frying
Instructions
- Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside while you fry the pickles.
- Cut the pickles into ¼-inch thick diagonal slices.
- Lay the slices on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Use more paper towels to dry the pickle slices thoroughly. Place the pickles into the fridge while you stir together the sauce.
- Place the flour, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder in a bowl. Stir in the buttermilk. Season with salt and pepper. The batter will be thick.
- Heat vegetable oil (to about 375°) in a fryer or deep pot over high heat. You want enough oil to only come up 1/3 of the side of the pan.
- Dip one pickle slice into the batter. Shake off excess and carefully place in the hot oil. Repeat with several pickle slices. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Use a slotted spoon to turn the pickles slices over once they are golden on one side, about 1 to 2 minutes total frying time per slice.
- Remove the slices to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Continue until all the pickle slices are fried.
- Serve with sauce for dipping.
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Ingredients, step-by-step method, and every chef-tested detail are reserved for members of the Estate Registry.
Join the Estate RegistryThe Heart of the Table
There is a profound, joyful energy that happens when you set a platter of something unexpectedly fun, like fried pickles, in the center of the table. It immediately breaks the ice, encouraging laughter and shared reaching across the platter, reminding us that the best gatherings aren't about perfection, but about the playful, unpretentious moments that make our friends and neighbors feel truly at home.
Neighborly Grace
- THE PRESENTATION: Pile the golden-brown pickle chips high on a dark, rustic serving platter so the pale, creamy dipping sauce pops visually. Serve immediately; you want the guests to experience the dramatic crunch while the batter is still perfectly crisp and hot from the fryer.
- THE POUR: A crisp, heavily chilled, ice-cold pilsner or a light lager. You need the sharp, clean carbonation to scrub the palate of the heavy frying oil and intense spices between each salty bite.
- THE VIBE: Energetic, casual, and incredibly fun. This is elevated, sophisticated comfort food perfect for a lively weekend afternoon on the manicured lawn.