Deep Fried Feta Cheese Recipe

This weekend is the Super Bowl, but Lulu and his friends are so disappointed that the Niners didn't quite make it (and with Kyle Williams in particular) that they're threatening not to watch the game. Even though the boys are being such party poopers, I still plan on putting out a nice spread. As they say, the game must go on!

This particular dish is my take on the traditional fare of breaded mozzarella cheese sticks. Instead of mozzarella though, I made my fried treats with raw feta cheese. The cheese is from Redwood Hill Farms, and it is just delicious! It has such a strong flavor and really holds up well to being deep-fried. Unlike mozzarella, feta cheese doesn't melt but keeps a very pleasant firm texture. 



To finish the plate, I drizzled a basil dressing on the appetizers for a contrast of color. For the party, I'll probably serve the fried feta cheese on a large tray, but you could also place a smaller portion as I did on a bed of diced vegetables.

Pumpkin Fritter Recipe

I've been feeding my husband Lulu very healthy food since the beginning of the year. I was thinking he couldn’t take much anymore, so when he came home I decided to give him a reprieve of sorts. I had already steamed some pumpkin that I intended to add to a low cal, healthy canh (Vietnamese soup). As a treat, I took some of the extra diced pumpkin and created dumplings that I deep-fried.

My trick for making fluffy fritters is to replace the standard combination of ice water, flour and baking powder with just cold beer and flour. It gives a nice aroma to the appetizer and pairs well with pumpkin. I also garnished the dish with slices of fried chiles for color.

Pakora Curry (Dahi Besan Curry Recipe)

Pakora curry are fried dumplings made of a mixture of chickpea (besan) flour and spices soaked in a yogurt-based (dahi in Urdu) sauce. The dish is fairly easy to assemble.

It's one of my father-in-law's favorite dishes, and I was determined to learn how to make it. My husband Lulu's aunt, Sara, gave me the directions over the phone, so I was able to follow her step by step instructions. I served this curry with steamed basmati rice.

Fried Haddock Recipe

Haddock is a very popular white, firm-fleshed fish, but it can be bland if not seasoned properly. To enhance the flavor, I marinated haddock fish in white wine, ginger, lemongrass, red chili powder and crushed garlic. The fish was lightly coated in a little flour, then pan-fried until golden brown. It came out beautifully moist and wonderfully fragrant. I served it with vegetable couscous, but it makes the best filling for fish sandwiches as well.

I absolutely love fried seafood. I probably eat it more than I should. I have a few recipes that I always turn to when I need a fix, and this is one of my favorites. I always have to be careful whenever I cook seafood so I don’t scare off the vegetarians in my home. This particular fish doesn’t send them running for the hills, so it’s a perfect compromise.

How to Make Fried Pot Stickers (Vegetarian Potsticker Recipe)

I made vegetarian fried pot stickers today. I filled them with fresh water chestnuts, mung bean paste, shiitake mushrooms and fresh soy bean paste (packed with protein). Folding pot stickers is a little tricky, and I think it's the biggest challenge the first time you try. The key is to ensure that it is well sealed so the filling doesn't leak while frying. With a little practice it gets really easy.

I usually serve them as appetizers. Even the meat eaters like them because soy bean paste has a similar texture to ground chicken. Also, who doesn't like fried food?