Wrapped in a crispy breading and served with a spicy dipping sauce, Fried Pepper Rings are the perfect crunchy side dish or appetizer.
I spend approximately 73 percent of my time dreaming of new ways to cook with peppers. In addition to my poblano obsession, I’m a big fan of jalapenos and cubanelles. I bought a couple cubanelles at the grocery store a while back without any real plans for using them. They sat in the fridge for a few days, I brainstormed ideas, and then I had a light bulb moment.
Why had I never made fried pepper rings before? I’m talking onion rings, but with peppers. Genius, right? I’d had fried jalapeno slices, but I’d never seen it done with milder peppers. Once the idea came to me, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I had no choice to but to make them.
I chose to use mild peppers, but I still wanted a little kick of heat. I whipped up a spicy dipping sauce and, I’ve got to say, please don’t make this recipe without the sauce. Fried Pepper Rings were made for so much more than boring ketchup; let them swim in the spicy sauce they deserve.
Fried Pepper Rings with Spicy Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
For the Pepper Rings
4 mild peppers, like cubanelles or poblanos
1 1/2 cup flour
2 tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 3/4 cup seltzer water, lemon-lime soda, or beer
vegetable oil for frying
For the Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs sriracha sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
pinch salt
pinch sugar
Instructions
Slice peppers into 1/2 inch rounds. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, and Cajun seasoning. Add seltzer water or other liquid and whisk until batter is smooth.
In a large skillet or saucepan, heat oil to 325 degrees. Dip pepper rings in batter and transfer immediately to hot oil. Fry for three to five minutes, or until both sides are golden. Remove to drain on paper towels. Repeat until all rings are fried.
While peppers are frying, mix together all dipping sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Serve rings hot.
Notes
- Jalapenos are great, too, but they definitely pack more heat; banana peppers would be great, too.
- The batter used here is for my Crispy Fish Tacos; to make these healthier, you could bake them and use the breading from my Baked Onion Rings.
I’ve got plenty more crunchy snacks, like Cheesy Bacon Rotel Phyllo Cups and Southwestern Corn Cakes!
