Description
Crispy smoked gouda fritters blend Wisconsin cheese magic with golden crunch. Rich balsamic honey mustard sauce complements the appetizer, offering guests a delightful blend of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses:
- 1 (15-ounces / 425 grams) container whole milk ricotta
- 1 cup shredded smoked gouda
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs
Wet Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- Canola oil, for frying
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dipping Sauce Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
- 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Blend creamy ricotta, smoky gouda, and stretchy mozzarella in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a harmonious cheese foundation for the fritters.
- Carefully sculpt tablespoon-sized cheese spheres, arranging them methodically on a parchment-lined tray, ensuring uniform size and shape.
- Chill the delicate cheese orbs in the freezer for half an hour, allowing them to firm and maintain structural integrity during subsequent coating.
- Prepare three distinct stations: one with flour, another with whisked eggs, and the final with seasoned breadcrumbs for a comprehensive coating process.
- Retrieve the chilled cheese balls and systematically roll each through the flour, egg wash, and breadcrumb layers, creating a crisp protective shell.
- Return the coated fritters to the freezer for an additional 30-minute rest, enhancing their ability to maintain shape during frying.
- Heat canola oil in a deep pot to precisely 350°F, creating an ideal frying environment for golden, crispy exteriors.
- Gently lower the chilled fritters into the hot oil, rotating them to achieve an even, rich golden-brown coloration across all surfaces.
- Extract the fritters using a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drip away, and immediately sprinkle with a delicate touch of salt.
- Craft the accompanying dipping sauce by whisking together Dijon mustard, grainy mustard, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and freshly ground pepper.
- Plate the warm, crackling fritters alongside the tangy-sweet balsamic honey mustard sauce, ready to be devoured.
Notes
- Chill the cheese mixture before forming balls to make shaping easier and help maintain the structural integrity of the fritters.
- Freezing the formed fritters twice creates a crispy exterior and prevents cheese from leaking during frying.
- Use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain precise oil temperature, ensuring golden-brown fritters without burning.
- Pat the fritters dry before coating to help breadcrumbs adhere more effectively and create a crunchier texture.
- Allow the dipping sauce to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and intensify.
- Store uncooked fritters in freezer bags for up to 2 months, making them a convenient make-ahead appetizer for unexpected guests.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hour freezing time)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 490mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 90mg