Hello, fellow food enthusiasts! Today, I am excited to share a recipe that’s sure to delight all the pickle lovers out there: Crispy Fried Pickle Straws. These crunchy, tangy snacks are perfect for parties, game days, or just when you need a tasty treat. If you’re a fan of fried pickles, you’re going to love this fun twist on the classic.
What Are Fried Pickle Straws?
Fried pickle straws are thin strips of pickles that are coated in a flavorful batter and deep-fried to golden perfection. They offer the perfect balance of tangy and crispy, making them an irresistible snack. The thinner cut allows for an extra crunchy bite, ensuring you get a satisfying crunch with every piece.
Ingredients
To make a batch of crispy fried pickle straws, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 2-3 whole dill pickles
- 1 cup buttermilk (optional- see notes)
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Cooking oil (I used avocado oil)
- Salt as needed
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Pickles
Start by draining the dill pickles and patting them dry with paper towels. This step is crucial to ensure the batter sticks well to the pickles. Once dry, spiral the pickles into thin straws.
Step 2: Set Up the Breading Station
In one shallow bowl, pour the buttermilk. In another shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. This will be your seasoned flour mixture.
NOTE: I tried a few variations and you definitely can just skip the buttermilk part and pat dry then add to flour, however I really liked the flavor when I soaked them in buttermilk first!
Step 3: Heat the Oil
In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat oil of choice to 375°F (190°C). You need enough oil to submerge the pickle straws fully, so fill the skillet or fryer accordingly.
Step 4: Coat the Pickles
Dip each pickle straw into the buttermilk, ensuring it’s fully coated. Then, dredge it in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing lightly to ensure the coating sticks. Shake off any excess flour.
Step 5: Fry the Pickles
Carefully place the coated pickle straws into the hot oil in small batches, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet or fryer. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 3-5 minutes per batch. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pickles and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
Step 6: Serve
Once all the pickle straws are fried, it’s time to enjoy them! Serve the crispy fried pickle straws with a side of ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce. They are best enjoyed hot and fresh.
Tips and Variations
- Pickles: Experiment with different types of pickles like spicy dill or bread and butter for varied flavors.
- Seasoning: Customize the seasoning in the flour mixture to suit your taste. Try adding dried herbs like dill or parsley.
- Dipping Sauce: Ranch dressing is a classic choice, but these pickle straws also pair well with spicy aioli, blue cheese dressing, or honey mustard.
Ingredients
Method
- Take your whole pickle and spin it through the spiral cutter. You want long strands of pickles. Take the strands and soak in a bowl with the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes.
- In a pot, heat two inches of oil to 375°. While it heats, Stir together the flour, pepper and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Set aside. Transfer the pickles to a colander and drain off the excess buttermilk.
- Grab a handful of the soaked pickles and transfer them to the flour. Stir them around until each one is well coated in the flour and they don’t stick together. Shake off excess flour and transfer them to the hot oil. Cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown (times may vary)
- Transfer the fried pickle strings to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat until all the pickle strings are cooked. Top on your burger and enjoy!