Fried Asparagus with a Spicy Dipping Sauce

This crispy, crunchy fried asparagus with a spicy dipping sauce is superb! Even folks who say they don't like asparagus will love this! 

For several months, we've been getting lots of asparagus from the garden and I have made this dish several times. Yes, I know. It's deep fried. 

But we have to indulge ourselves occasionally, right? 

Luckily, you don't have to have a garden full of asparagus growing to make this recipe. It's readily available year round.

How to make fried asparagus

First, you are going to need about a pound of fresh asparagus. Remove the woody ends of each stalk by bending it gently. It will naturally snap at the place where the woodiness begins.

Rinse the asparagus with water and let drain but leave damp.

On a plate, mix ¼ cup all purpose flour and ½ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and paprika.

Pop the top of a cold one. 

In a shallow, oblong container mix 1 cup of all purpose flour and ½ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and paprika.

Gradually add 1 cup of beer to the flour mixture while whisking. It's really important that you use a freshly opened beer so that you can get bubbles from the carbonation. 

Do what you want with the remaining beer in the bottle! Can you guess what I do with mine?

In the meantime, heat about 2 inches of frying oil in a dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. I use avocado oil because it has a high smoke point. The oil needs to heat up to 350 degrees. 

Dredge a few damp asparagus spears in the dry flour mixture on the plate and then dip the spears into the beer batter. 

One at a time, transfer the battered asparagus to the pot or skillet and carefully drop them in the hot oil. Be sure not to crowd the spears. Deep fry them about 2-3 minutes, turning them once after 1 minute.

Cook until they are golden brown.

Remove the fried asparagus from the oil and let drain on paper towels. 

Continue frying the asparagus in batches until you run out. 

To make a simple dipping sauce, I whip out my favorite hot sauce.

Mix together ¾ cup mayonnaise and a few drops of Cholula. That's it! Simple! 

Fried asparagus can be served as an appetizer, a side, or sometimes at our house, it's the entree! 

But I guarantee you that you will wish that you had made more. It disappears fast! 

Fried Asparagus with a Spicy Dipping Sauce

This crispy, crunchy fried asparagus with a spicy dipping sauce makes a great appetizer or a side. 

• 1 pound asparagus (washed and snapped)
• 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour (divided)
• 1 cup beer
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• oil for deep fat frying

For the sauce

• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• 3-4 drops hot sauce such as Cholula

1. Wash and drain the asparagus but leave damp.

2. Add 2 inches of frying oil to a dutch oven or cast iron skillet and heat to 350 degrees.

3. In a shallow plate, combine ¼ cup flour and ½ teaspoon each of paprika, salt, and pepper.

4. In an oblong container, combine 1 cup flour and the rest of the spices.

5. Whisk in 1 cup beer.

6. Dredge the damp asparagus in the dry flour mixture to coat.

7. Dip the coated asparagus in the beer batter.

8. Drop the battered asparagus spears into the hot oil one at a time.

9. Deep fry 2-3 minutes turning after 1 minute.

10. Remove from the hot oil and drain on paper towels. 

11. Repeat process until all the asparagus has been fried.

To make the dipping sauce

1. Mix together the mayonnaise and the hot sauce. 

Serve as an appetizer or as a side dish.

The dipping sauce can be made in advance and refrigerated. 

I use avocado oil for frying because of its high smoke point. Peanut oil works well, too.

Appetizer

American

beer battered asparagus, fried asparagus

I hope you enjoy this beer battered fried asparagus as much as we did. If you make it, be sure to come back and rate the recipe.

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