Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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!!!!

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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.
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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.
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Toss together all of the veggies & shrimps, until well combined.
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Fast forward an hour...

Cut some banana leaf squares.
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(Did ya notice I finally have REAL kitchen scissors now?!!)

Heat the oil.

Add just enough batter to coat the veggie/shrimp mixture.
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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.
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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.
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When it's kinda held together, you can let go.
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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!!!)

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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!
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16 comments:

What's Cookin Chicago said...

Love it! I especially love dipping it in vinegar & garlic... mmm!

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Oh ur shrimp fritters are so excellente and with all ur instructions and steps if i foolow u ditto i think i'll get it...except that it doesnt take me a year :-)))
I have loads and really loads of recipes bookmarked too but must try loads of ur delicious ones soonnnnn....

Kim said...

They looks really cool. I bet they were all kinds of deliciousness:D

Tangled Noodle said...

You are more Filipina than me! I haven't made these yet and you did a fantastic job. Thanks for the link to the how-to video (I'm a little scared of frying) and your step-by-step photos. The vegetables look so colorful and the finished fritters are wonderfully appetizing.

Patti T. said...

I don't even like shrimp and that looks delicious to me. I had no idea that banana leaves were so cheap either and the fact that they are frozen is even better. My in-laws love a fish dish they get in Florida and it is baked in a banana leaf. Back to your recipe, I love that you used rice flour and how colorful the vegetables are. I really, really enjoy your blog.

paoix said...

I'm glad you liked it! I like this kind of ukoy because it tastes pretty freaking good!

Bob said...

I'm not a big shrimp fan, but I would definitely try those. They look wicked good. I have a couple Filipino recipes that I've been meaning to make myself to try to get myself out of my cooking comfort zone.

Spryte said...

@Bob... Jon doesn't really care for shrimp and he LOVED these.

NKP said...

Wow, good for you!
I've never made anything like them - they look delicious!

Mom on the Run said...

Spryte-- I am in awe! This looks amazing but I probably would not have your patience to get this dish made. YUM!

teresa said...

delicious! what a great dish!

Shane T. Wingerd said...

Those look awesome! HA HA, I watched the video and laughed when he said "shrimps"

DutchBakerGirl said...

What a great little appetizer--this looks amazing!

angelinthekitchen said...

That's such a great idea for you and the kids!

Kathleen said...

That looks really good, Spryte...I have to get rice flour and banana leaves though..after the big snowstorm finishes here in NY!
Kathleen (dishnut)

Elizabeth said...

I love all of the fun ingredients you used here! Your fritters look great!