Description
These Vegan Thai Corn Fritters are a delicious, crispy snack or appetizer made from fresh corn kernels, aromatic Thai red curry paste, and fragrant kaffir lime leaves. Perfectly seasoned and lightly fried, they are served with Thai sweet chilli sauce, offering an authentic burst of Thai flavors in a vegan and gluten-free treat.
Ingredients
Fritter Batter
- 1 tbsp ground flax or chia seeds (1 flax egg)
- 3 cups corn kernels (fresh or canned, drained)
- 1 heaped tbsp vegan-friendly Thai red curry paste
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 115 g (¾ cup) rice flour, approximately
- ½ tsp fine sea salt (heaped)
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 2 fresh kaffir lime (Makrut) leaves, finely shredded
For Frying and Serving
- Vegetable oil, for deep or shallow frying
- Thai sweet chilli sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Flax Egg: Mix 1 tbsp ground flax seeds with 3 tbsp water in a small bowl. Place it in the fridge for at least 20 minutes until thickened to form the flax egg.
- Prepare Corn: If using fresh corn, cut kernels off the cob. If using canned corn, drain well.
- Make Batter: In a food processor, combine half of the corn kernels with the flax egg, Thai red curry paste, baking powder, rice flour, salt, and white pepper. Process until you achieve a smooth batter.
- Mix in Remaining Ingredients: Transfer the batter to a mixing bowl. Add the remaining corn kernels and shredded kaffir lime leaves, folding them in well for texture and aroma.
- Chill Batter: Refrigerate the mixture for 30 to 60 minutes. Check the consistency; if too runny, stir in 1-2 extra tablespoons of rice flour to thicken.
- Heat Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a small pan. For deep-frying, fill the pan enough to immerse fritters fully. For shallow frying, pour oil about 1.25 cm (0.5 inch) deep.
- Fry Fritters: For deep frying, scoop batter with two tablespoons and gently drop into hot oil. For shallow frying, form batter into flattened patties before placing in oil. Avoid overcrowding to maintain oil temperature and prevent greasiness.
- Cook Until Golden: Deep fry until fritters resurface and turn golden brown on all sides, turning frequently. Shallow fry each side for about 2 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Drain Excess Oil: Place cooked fritters on a plate lined with kitchen towels to absorb excess oil.
- Serve: Serve warm with a side of Thai sweet chilli sauce for dipping.
Notes
- You can substitute chia seeds if flax seeds are unavailable for the egg mixture.
- Adjust rice flour quantity as needed to achieve proper batter thickness.
- Kaffir lime leaves add authentic flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
- These fritters can be deep-fried for traditional texture or shallow-fried for less oil.
- Serve immediately for best flavor and crispiness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Thai
