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Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Cheddar Corn Fritters
Filed under Cookbook of the Month, Side Dish - VegetableJun 13
Do you remember that movie Flight of the Navigator? In case you haven’t,
Flight of the Navigator is a 1986 Disney science fiction film about a 12-year old boy, David, who is abducted by an alien space craft. Due to time dilation, David is gone for only a few hours, but when he is returned to earth, eight years have gone by. David has no memory of his abduction, and finds the world, and his family to have changed drastically. He eventually winds up at NASA to discover what happened. There he reunites with the ship. (From Wikipedia)
I remember watching this as a child. After seeing it for the first time, I developed this fear that I would come home one day only to discover that time had passed by for everyone else but me. It seems so silly to me now, but it was an honest fear for me when I was younger. I would go to school one day, and worry that days or weeks had gone by without me there, and that I wouldn’t know anyone anymore, and that everyone would think I was crazy.
Well, obviously that never happened, but I still have brief moments like this as an adult. One of these moments was yesterday. I was at the dentist’s office, lying in the chair getting a cavity filled. (Stupid, sneaky cavities!!) As I’m lying there, I all of a sudden hear George Micheal’s Christmas song – Last Christmas – playing on the radio. I had a brief moment of panic, wondering why I thought it was June when it was in fact December. Why else would there be Christmas music on the radio? After that moment, the dentist said something about the song and wondered why it was on the radio, so I immediately realized that – no, I hadn’t skipped through the last 6 months somehow without noticing. It was still June!
So what does this story have to do with these Cheddar Corn Fritters? Nothing, except for the fact that I was totally bummed that my mouth was halfway numb when I ate these. Because they were phenomenal. And even though my tongue felt at least 5 times larger than normal and I was drooling out of the right side of my mouth, I still gave these an A+. In fact, this recipe alone was worth the cost of this cookbook.
I have been seeing fresh corn at the store for the last couple weeks, but I’m usually wary of corn this early – afraid that it will have no flavor. But I decided to go for it, and I’m glad I did. This corn was so incredible sweet and juicy – it was perfect! I did boil the corn for about 3 minutes before I cut it off the cob, and I would suggest this extra step. And I’ve decided that I’m the worst pan fryer ever – my kitchen was covered in oil by the time I was finished. (I have a hard time flipping things over without making a total mess!) While I was making them, I couldn’t see how they would be worth the mess they were making, but when I took my first bite, the mess didn’t matter at all anymore. They are seriously that good.
Cheddar Corn Fritters
adapted from Vegetables by the Culinary Institute of AmericaMakes about 16 fritters
3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
3 ears corn, plus corn milk (or 2 cups corn kernals)*
3 tablespoons diced red or green bell pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons melted butter
Vegetable oil for pan fryingIf using fresh corn, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the shucked and cleaned corn to the water and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from water. *Cut kernels from ears of corn and then scrape the cobs with a table knife to release all the milk. Catch this milk in a bowl and add to the batter. Stir together flour, sugar, chili powder, if using, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Combine corn and corn milk, if available, bell pepper, if using, eggs, water and cheese in a bowl. Add to flour mixture all at once. Stir just until batter is evenly moistened. Stir in melted butter.
Pour oil into large skillet to a depth of 1/4 inch. Heat over medium heat until it registers 350 degrees on a deep-frying thermometer. Using a serving spoon and working in batches to avoid crowding, drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. You will make about 16 fritters in all. Pan fry on the first side until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes. Turn once and fry until golden brown on the second side, 2 minutes more. Drain fritters on absorbent towels and season with salt.
If needed, you can keep the first batches of fritters warm in an oven at 200 degrees while you finish frying the rest. Serve at once.
31 Responses to “Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Cheddar Corn Fritters”
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Gabi said on June 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Wow I must try these- if they’re that good for a rave after eating with a half numb mouth
It’s interesting how an idea can completely capture your imagination as a child and you carry it with you your entire life. I have those too.
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Grace said on June 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
i love corn fritters. unfortunately, my frying skills leave a lot to be desired and i tend to hurt myself. sometimes–actually, most times–they’re totally worth the pain. these look sensational!
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eatme_delicious said on June 13th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Oh wow that looks good and anything that says “fritter” has me interested! I’m really bad at pan frying stuff like this too so I usually avoid it. I tried to make potato fritters/patties once and the mixture was too watery so the fritters never firmed up.
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Tasha T said on June 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Those look SO good! bookmarking to try it..
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Catherine Wilkinson said on June 13th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I’m the same way about corn…superstitious about buying too early…but, for some crazy reason (global warming! ice caps melting! Al Gore spazzing out!) the corn has been GREAT right now. Perfect recipe, even with the oil splatters!
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Kelly-Jane said on June 13th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Oh they look just gorgeous! Yum yum!!
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Mary said on June 13th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
OK, I think I’m going to have to try these! They sound fabulous!
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Melanie said on June 13th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Yum but sorry your mouth was numb while eating them! And I loved that movie, too. I haven’t seen it in years…
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Emiline said on June 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Yes! I want these.
Were you on gas when you were at the dentist’s office? That stuff makes me loopy.
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kat said on June 13th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
oh man i want those now!
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Prudy said on June 14th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Great idea-I’ll give this a try when the corn is at its best. I’m a fellow Utah food blogger and just got back from a week in Orem at my sisters!
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Steph said on June 14th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Yum, these sound good! Must give these a try! Sounds like a great cookbook!
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Arfi Binsted said on June 14th, 2008 at 9:45 am
hmmm… cheddar! i wonder how they turned out to be in corn fritters. i mean the taste. must be very different from feta or gruyere. worth trying.
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Lore said on June 14th, 2008 at 10:07 am
You sure make these sound incredibly good! And since hubster declared himself as being the no 1 Cheddar fan I’m sure he would love these.
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Cookie baker Lynn said on June 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Isn’t it funny how we can develop weird childhhood fears. My son-in-law to be had nightmares for weeks after watching ET as a child.
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noble pig said on June 14th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Oh yummy…I’ve never met a Friiter that wasn’t my friend…EVER!
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RecipeGirl said on June 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
These look nummy! Definitely something out of the ordinary for me to make. Love that kind of stuff.
I’m mourning the loss of tastespotting too
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Kevin said on June 14th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Adding cheese to corn fritters is a great idea! They look really good!
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farida said on June 14th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Looks lovely! Great combination of ingredients. I think I’ll bookmark this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
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HoneyB said on June 15th, 2008 at 10:40 am
These sound very delicious – I grew up with my mom making corn fritters and I always looked forward to them!
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Jeena said on June 15th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Sweetcorn is a big favourite here, these fritters sound fabulous.
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Vicarious Foodie said on June 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Oh my gosh I am so making these. They sound like a dream. Thanks for the recipe!
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Peabody said on June 16th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I dare not make these as I would eat the whole batch!
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Ann said on June 16th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
This is definitely getting bookmarked for when corn comes into season. And I loved Flight of the Navigator!
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Ruth Elkin said on June 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I love corn fritters. These look delicious!!!!
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kamailesfood said on June 18th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Hmmm…you make these sound like an absolute must try. I enjoy a good corn fritter and one with cheese sounds even better.
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ashley said on June 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
these look delicious!!
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kimberleyblue said on June 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I rarely fry any food – but I am soo making these. They sound so delicious!!
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Ashley said on August 16th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I made these tonight as a side to grilled Chicken, they were extremely delicious! Thanks
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kelaltieri said on October 17th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
i just made these and .. wow.
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Amanda said on April 28th, 2011 at 1:12 am
hello there used to be a cheddar cornmeal icebox cracker recipe here and ive even gone to the archives and it beings me to this recipe. although it looks good when im truly after is the icebox crackers. can you help me?
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