Fried okra! Especially the way my mama makes it. Most people do cornmeal. She coats it in a little buttermilk and dredges it in self rising flour. Makes a light and crispy crust
Fried pickles, fried eggplant, fried squash or zuc., fried okra, fried cukes, …there is nothing that cannot be fried, and I’ll eat most any of it.
I’m a Southern gal, and that’s what we do!
No one has mentioned Snickers or Twinkies yet. Probably more dessert than sides but who cares we are in the land of excess…Live it up until your heart gives out.
If you live in Texas, the onion rings from Whataburger are the standard against which all other deep fried side dishes are compared. However, the worst onion rings I have had in quite some time were from a Whataburger in Tucson, Arizona. I have no explanation to offer, but I will add that the hamburger was also substandard.
@werehatrack The onion rings from Lone Star Grill in Benbrook are significantly better than anything to be had at nearby Whataburgers.
I am a fan of biscuits & gravy from WB, especially in the wee hours after consuming adult beverages
Fried sweet and baby white potatoes.As a child,I remember getting the fresh potatoes from Dad’s garden.They got cubed,parboiled,and into Mom’s cast iron skillet with lots of butter.So good you had to sit on one hand to keep from choking yourself to death.
Like most things, it depends on how you define “best”. I rarely say “oh boy, fries!”, but I can eat them three times a week and never get tired of them.
Conversely, on rare occasions when I have fried mushrooms, I really love them, much more than french fried potatoes. But I would probably tire of them pretty quickly if I were having them on a weekly basis.
So far nothing mentioned I haven’t/wouldn’t eat. Ok , maybe the spider, but hey… it’s fried right?
BTW much as I love my air fryer, the taste is NOT the same as deep fried in oil.
BTW2 if you have a chance deep fry in duck or goose fat. Yummmm.
@chienfou At a fast food place on the west side of town, I asked what they used in their deep fryer; the cashier said she thought It was vegetable oil, but she didn’t know what kind. So the inquiry went back to the kitchen, and when the response returned, it was “lard”. I said “That’s my favorite vegetable, pig!” Their onion rings were very good.
@chienfou@werehatrack When I was in high school and college I worked at a steakhouse where they butchered their own sides of beef. All the meat fat was rendered for use in the fryer.
@Kyeh One of the chip shops in Glasgow accepted the challenge to make deep-fried beer without the can. Achievement unlocked; beer bread soaked in beer and coated with a beer batter.
@Kyeh Come to the great State Fair of Texas where everything has been fried at least once and some fried and covered in cream gravy because, Texas. They’ve done Fried Coke, Margaritas, beer, butter (yes fried Butter) bubblegum, bacon, gumbo, you name it and it’s been tried at least by one vendor.
@Kyeh most likely not. I have not tried really any of the most extreme things on the list mentioned above. When i go to the fair, i stick with the classics like a corny dog
Tater tots. Yes, I am a child. I don’t care.
@kjady dude fried tots are always good. Fries are sometimes bad. Tots > fries
Bacon is technically fried, right?
@triavalon You are the hero we needed.
@triavalon But you can bread it and deepfry it!
/image Veggie tempura.
@Kyeh My new favorite fried food is Tempura Fried Green Beans at The Habit.
@Fuzzalini @Kyeh I’ll take that with some fried shrimp.
@zinimusprime
Then you’ve got a complete meal!
@Fuzzalini I looked that up and saw a photo on Instagram and it looks phenomenal!
Cheese.
Mozzarella sticks, curds, doesn’t matter. Fried cheese rocks.
Onion rings are for me Second only to fried corn-meal battered OKRA.
Fried Green Tomatoes. The only good tomato is a green tomato.
Waffle fries
Decisions, decisions
@heartny too many repeats. Where are the fried pickles? The fried cheese balls? The fried tots?
Truffle fries!
Fried ice cream. Everything is better with a side of ice cream.
@hchavers
Fried ice cream w/honey
Inside. Inside my mouth.
Fried okra! Especially the way my mama makes it. Most people do cornmeal. She coats it in a little buttermilk and dredges it in self rising flour. Makes a light and crispy crust
Fried pickles, fried eggplant, fried squash or zuc., fried okra, fried cukes, …there is nothing that cannot be fried, and I’ll eat most any of it.
I’m a Southern gal, and that’s what we do!
No one has mentioned Snickers or Twinkies yet. Probably more dessert than sides but who cares we are in the land of excess…Live it up until your heart gives out.
If you live in Texas, the onion rings from Whataburger are the standard against which all other deep fried side dishes are compared. However, the worst onion rings I have had in quite some time were from a Whataburger in Tucson, Arizona. I have no explanation to offer, but I will add that the hamburger was also substandard.
@werehatrack Are those batter or breaded? I prefer the batter dip used for tempura.
@werehatrack I miss the onion rings from Tony Roma’s
@detailer Whataburger’s rings are batter-dipped and close to perfect.
@werehatrack The onion rings from Lone Star Grill in Benbrook are significantly better than anything to be had at nearby Whataburgers.
I am a fan of biscuits & gravy from WB, especially in the wee hours after consuming adult beverages
@werehatrack Thanks
Mushrooms. Lovely little bombs of tongue scalding goodness.
Backside
@tweezak
Ow… maybe sunscreen next time?
Fried sweet and baby white potatoes.As a child,I remember getting the fresh potatoes from Dad’s garden.They got cubed,parboiled,and into Mom’s cast iron skillet with lots of butter.So good you had to sit on one hand to keep from choking yourself to death.
Like most things, it depends on how you define “best”. I rarely say “oh boy, fries!”, but I can eat them three times a week and never get tired of them.
Conversely, on rare occasions when I have fried mushrooms, I really love them, much more than french fried potatoes. But I would probably tire of them pretty quickly if I were having them on a weekly basis.
So far nothing mentioned I haven’t/wouldn’t eat. Ok , maybe the spider, but hey… it’s fried right?
BTW much as I love my air fryer, the taste is NOT the same as deep fried in oil.
BTW2 if you have a chance deep fry in duck or goose fat. Yummmm.
@chienfou At a fast food place on the west side of town, I asked what they used in their deep fryer; the cashier said she thought It was vegetable oil, but she didn’t know what kind. So the inquiry went back to the kitchen, and when the response returned, it was “lard”. I said “That’s my favorite vegetable, pig!” Their onion rings were very good.
@werehatrack
Yep, sometimes the old ways are STILL the best! Much like pie crust made from lard.
@chienfou @werehatrack When I was in high school and college I worked at a steakhouse where they butchered their own sides of beef. All the meat fat was rendered for use in the fryer.
@Kyeh @werehatrack
If it exists, someone will fry it:
https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/15-weirdest-foods-people-deep-fried
Deep fried water, anyone?
@Kidsandliz, for your daughter
(Although I remember you said she told you she doesn’t really like them)
@Kyeh One of the chip shops in Glasgow accepted the challenge to make deep-fried beer without the can. Achievement unlocked; beer bread soaked in beer and coated with a beer batter.
@werehatrack
Mmmm, hot beer
@Kyeh Come to the great State Fair of Texas where everything has been fried at least once and some fried and covered in cream gravy because, Texas. They’ve done Fried Coke, Margaritas, beer, butter (yes fried Butter) bubblegum, bacon, gumbo, you name it and it’s been tried at least by one vendor.
@Kyeh Yeah I think she would do without one of those. She’d rather have fried chicken.
(“Spider no good mom. In this country we have chicken.”).
@Kidsandliz
Chicken’s a lot easier to find, too!
@ironcheftoni
Did they do water?
https://meh.com/forum/topics/best-fried-side#62bc88673f96f191e9596d75
@Kyeh if they have tried it, it has not been sold yet
@ironcheftoni
Would you try it if they do?
@Kyeh most likely not. I have not tried really any of the most extreme things on the list mentioned above. When i go to the fair, i stick with the classics like a corny dog
Fresh artichoke hearts
Brussel sprout halves
Grasshoppers
Fresh mushrooms
@stolicat
these?
@stolicat
/image kung fu grasshopper
@pmarin @chienfou
at 28 seconds
@chienfou @stolicat
Put a splash of Frangelica in that grasshopper and it’s like a mint snickers.
/giphy fried
/giphy cheese curds
