Ukoy ~ Shrimp Fritters

So a couple times a year, I try to make a Filipino feast for my kids. They rarely get to see that side of the family, but I want them to be at least familiar with the food!

Now the Filipino side of the family is not my side of the family. So I mostly have to wing it.

While reading one filipino dish a week, I stumbled across Ukoy... Shrimp Fritters.

I knew right away that I had to make them. It took me almost a year... but I finally did!

They are sooooo good!!!!



Ukoy

Batter:
3/4 C rice flour
1/3 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 C water

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Beat the egg together with the water. Mix the dry and wet ingredients and until smooth. Let cool in the fridge for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Filling:
1 C shrimps
1 C leeks white part julienned
1 C carrots julienned
1 C bean sprouts
1 C snow peas julienned
1 C cabbage julienned

frying oil
4-inch square banana leaf (I used a few!)

Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl. Pour enough batter just to coat. Oil one side of the banana leaf. Place banana leaf on a spider and put a little bit of the mixture on top. Fry in 300-350 degree F oil. After about 1 minute of so take the banana leaf out. Continue frying for about 1 minute. Then flip over. Serve with vinegar, garlic, and salt sauce.

He has a video on his post and I highly suggest you check it out.

Frying stuff on a banana leaf was intimidating enough, but if I hadn't been able to see how he does it, there's no way I would have even tried!

You need rice flour.


If they don't have this at your grocery store, you can get it at an Asian market.

You can get banana leaves there too. It's a gigantic package of frozen banana leaves for $1.25! I don't know how much I thought they'd be. But I didn't expect them to be that cheap!

So whisk up your batter and put it in the fridge.


Toss together all of the veggies & shrimps, until well combined.


Fast forward an hour...

Cut some banana leaf squares.

(Did ya notice I finally have REAL kitchen scissors now?!!)

Heat the oil.

Add just enough batter to coat the veggie/shrimp mixture.


Now for the really intimidating part... the frying.

I had no idea frying anything would intimidate me... but I had never tried to fry loose things that are supposed to end up together!

Grab a little handful/big pinch of veggie/shrimp stuff and put it on a banana leaf square.


Now into the oil.

I had a hard time coordinating the spider after it was in the oil and ended up kinda holding the leaf in place with tongs.


When it's kinda held together, you can let go.


Then you can slide the leaf out of the pan.

When the fritter golden, turn it over and cook until it's golden on the other side too.

You really really really need to watch his video to have a better idea of how to do this.

Drain on a rack and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. I meant to try the sauce in this recipe but forgot and ended up using vinegar/soy sauce/garlic. (I can drink that stuff it's so good!!!)



Everyone LOVED these!!! I'll definitely be making them again!

My pictures don't begin to show you how yummy they are! You must try them!

Yikes! I almost forgot!!

paoix... this is for you!