Name: Bacon Hushpuppies with Maple-Dijon Cream Cheese Spread
Yield: 24 fritters
Ingredients: 4 small shallots, finely chopped; 4 strips bacon, finely chopped; ¾ cup all-purpose flour; ¾ cup fine-grind cornmeal; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1½ teaspoons baking powder; 1½ teaspoons kosher salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon cayenne; 4 Tablespoons Challenge Unsalted Butter, chilled and grated or diced into pea sized pieces; 1 large egg, beaten to blend; 1½ cups buttermilk; 8 cups vegetable oil (for frying); 8 ounces Challenge Cream Cheese, room temperature; 3 Tablespoons heavy cream; 1 Tablespoon grain-dijon mustard; 1 Tablespoon maple syrup; 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons onion powder; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 2 Tablespoons minced chives (for garnish)

Servings

24 fritters

Level

Medium

Bacon Hushpuppies

4 small shallots, finely chopped
4 strips bacon, finely chopped
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup fine-grind cornmeal
2 teaspoons sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne
4 Tablespoons Challenge Unsalted Butter, chilled and grated or diced into pea sized pieces
1 large egg, beaten to blend
1½ cups buttermilk
8 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Maple-Dijon Cream Cheese Spread

8 ounces Challenge Cream Cheese, room temperature
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 Tablespoon grain-dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 Tablespoons minced chives (for garnish)

Bacon Hushpuppies

1
In a saucepan, saute shallot and bacon until shallot is translucent and bacon is cooked. Set aside.
2
Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl to combine. Add butter and work in with a cold fork until mixture resembles coarse meal.
3
Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add egg and buttermilk, gradually incorporating into a smooth batter. Add shallot and bacon and mix just until combined.
4
Halfway fill a large heavy saucepan with oil. Using a candy or deep-fry thermometer, heat oil over medium-high until thermometer registers 350°.
5
In batches, carefully drop 1-tablespoon balls of batter into oil and fry, turning often and adjusting heat to maintain temperature, until hushpuppies are puffed and deep golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
6
Serve with Maple Dijon Spread.

Maple-Dijon Cream Cheese Spread

1
In a food processor mix all the ingredients except the chives until completely combined.
2
Serve in a dipping bowl, garnished with minced chives.

Recipe By

The Larder Meat Co.

Jensen is a chef, husband, father, outdoorsman, and entrepreneur. He believes in the power of linking land and food as a means of strengthening a community. So with his wife, Grace, he started the Larder Meat Co. to provide direct access to healthy, ethically raised meat.