Avocado Fries

 
Your cardiologist may beg to differ, but the fact of the matter is this: everything is better deep-fried.*

When most people think of deep-fried foods, they think of chicken, fries, maybe even turkey.  Some venture to deep fry Oreos, Snickers bars, pickles, pizzas, and I kid you not, Coca-Cola.  (This is why you're fat... has apparently shut down their site and has released a book).

Although I could have been more adventurous, I thought deep fried avocado "fries" was the most appropriate choice of finger food for our little Mexican fiesta (March Saturday Supper Club post to follow). I'm pretty sure my fellow diners agree.

Ingredients { from Coastal Living }
Makes 6 servings

• 2 firm, but ripe avocados, sliced into 1/2 in. wedges
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups Japanese panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 tsp.sea salt
• canola oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Pour canola oil into a medium saucepan until about 1 1/2 inches. Heat over medium-high heat.

2. Combine flour and salt in a shallow dish.  Put eggs and panko in two separate dishes.  This is your assembly line.

3. First dip the avocado wedge in flour, shaking off excess.  Then dip in egg.  Lastly, coat with panko crumbs.

4. Fry avocado wedges in batches for 30-60 seconds or until golden brown and drain on paper towels.  Place on a baking sheet in a 200 degree oven to keep warm while frying remaining wedges.

5. Sprinkle with salt and serve either as is or with ranch dressing on the side for some generous dunking!

* That said, I still encourage you to limit your intake of fried foods to a minimum. After all, cardiac arrest is never welcome. But a fried treat every once in awhile is kind of necessary -- maybe not so much for your waist and hips, but for your taste buds, appetite, and perhaps your happiness. They'll thank me later. Trust.

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yield: 6 servings
type: Appetizer

difficulty: Easy
cost: $