Asparagus fritters and aioli
By:
Joe Woodhouse
-
Published: 24 May 22
-
Updated: 25 Mar 24
Joe Woodhouse’s crisp asparagus fritters with seriously garlicky aioli make a perfect starter or nibble with drinks for late spring evenings. Recipe from Your Daily Veg: Modern, Fuss-free Vegetarian Food by Joe Woodhouse (Kyle Books £22).
Looking for more asparagus recipes? Try our filling asparagus, ham hock and potato salad.
-
Serves 4 as a starter or 12 as a canapé
-
Hands-on time 30 min
Ingredients
- 150g plain flour (this also works well with cornflour for gluten-free diets)
- 300ml sparkling water
- 500ml sunflower oil for frying
- 24 spears asparagus, woody ends snapped off
- White wine vinegar (optional)
For the aioli
- 2 medium free-range egg yolks
- 4 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 175ml neutral oil (such as groundnut or sunflower)
- 75ml extra-virgin olive oil
- Squeeze lemon juice or to taste (be generous)
Useful to have
- Stick blender
- Probe thermometer
Please note
Method
- If you’re taking the whisking route for the aioli (see bottom left), combine the egg yolks, mustard, vinegar and garlic in a bowl. Whisk while adding the oils a drop at a time to begin with, then gradually increase the amount of oil as the emulsion forms. Keep going until you’ve used all the oil. Stir in a pinch of salt and finish with lemon juice.
- To use the quick aioli method, you need a tall jug or container that fits all the ingredients and just accommodates the stick blender: the narrower the better. Add all the aioli ingredients except the garlic. Put the stick blender in the jug, right at the bottom. Blend on high, holding the container in one hand and slowly bringing the blender away from the bottom. As you do so, the yolks will emulsify and you’ll see the mixture go white and thick. Move slowly to allow the yolks to properly form an emulsion. (If it doesn’t work, use the whisking method with a fresh egg yolk and trickle in the unemulsified mix.) Whizz in the garlic before using.
- In a bowl, mix the flour and sparkling water together with a good pinch of salt until smooth.
- Heat 5cm sunflower oil in a deep 24cm frying pan to 190°C, or until a small cube of bread turns golden in 40-50 seconds.
- Working in batches, put a few spears at a time in the batter. Turn them over, then swiftly lay them side by side in the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes until the underside is golden, then turn them to fully cook the other side for 1-2 minutes. They’re done when the batter is golden.
- Drain on kitchen paper. Serve straightaway, stacked up and sprinkled with the vinegar, if you like, alongside the lemony aioli.
Recipe from May 2022 Issue
Nutrition
Nutrition: per serving
- Calories
- 323kcals
- Fat
- 18.8g (3g saturated)
- Protein
- 6.2g
- Carbohydrates
- 30.5g (1.7g sugars)
- Fibre
- 3.2g
- Salt
- 0.1g
delicious. tips
Don’t waste it: Once the frying oil has cooled, pour it through a sieve into a jug and rebottle to use another day.
Make the aioli ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.