Celebrating National Fritter Day
Fritters have a very special place in my heart, from learning my mother’s coveted sweetcorn fritter recipe, watching her whip them together with practiced speed as a child, to having the Christmas tradition of making pumpkin fritters bestowed on me when my grandmother had decided it was time for the next generation to start making her traditional recipe - she had served her time. I know many a mother who uses the beloved fritter to sneak vegetables into the tummies of fussy children. What you may not know, is that the fritter comes in many forms and is called by many names, in almost every country in the world. We look at some unique fritters today.
Poffertjes - Netherlands
Poffertjes are Dutch small pancakes that are commonly enjoyed as a dessert. It is a simple yet well-loved nostalgic dish, that many grow up eating. They resemble puffed balls and can either be enjoyed with a custard filling or with custard and other accompaniments on the side. Interestingly poffertjes otherwise known as pampoen koekies are also a popular traditional dessert in South Africa, where the batter is commonly mixed with pumpkin puree, the deep-fried ball is then either dusted in cinnamon sugar or drenched in a caramel sauce, enjoyed with simple vanilla ice cream.
Tempura - Japan
It is a hotly debated topic, and as a lover of food myself, we will not be taking a side. As far as the definition of what makes a fritter, essentially a battered fried food, the beloved tempura treats at your local Japanese restaurant count as a fritter. Although the definition is contested and debated, but due to its crunchy popularity, we highly recommend adding tempura to your fritter day celebration.
Gorengan - Indonesia
In Indonesia many varieties of the fritter (gorengan) can be enjoyed, the most popular being the banana fritter (pisang goring) which is enjoyed as a dessert. The many varieties that can be enjoyed include a breadfruit version, and for those who are brave enough, the potato fritter is enjoyed with a healthy sprinkling of birdseye chilli.
Fritter - USA
The humble fritter finds its origin in America. Americans enjoy fritters in any way you could imagine, from varying flavours to shapes and sizes. They even have fritters for different times of the year. Fritters range from sweet to savoury, from pumpkin and sweetcorn to cheese and even green tomato-based, and depending on the state visited. I think it’s safe to say there is probably no wrong way to enjoy a fritter today, wherever you find yourself.
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