Beer & cardamom apple fritters

Ingredients

  • 8 cardamom pods
  • 250 gr. plain flour
  • 30 gr. cornflour
  • ½ heaped teaspoon baking powder
  • 6 heaped tablespoons caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 medium free-range egg yolks
  • 330 ml can of chilled lager
  • 2 large Bramley apples , about 500 gr.
  • 1.5 litres vegetable oil , for frying

Salted chocolate sauce

  • 150 gr. quality dark chocolate 70%
  • 6 tablespoons whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons double cream
  • 30 gr. salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons light brown muscovado sugar

Method

  1. Crush the cardamom pods, pull out the seeds and finely grind in a pestle and mortar.
  2. Mix the flour in a bowl with the cornflour, baking powder, 1 tablespoon of caster sugar, 1 big pinch of sea salt, half the cardamom and half the ground cinnamon.
  3. Add the egg yolks and whisk, pouring in the lager as you go, until you have a smooth, thick batter; cover and set aside to rest.
  4. Peel and core the apples, before cutting them into ½-centimetre thick slices, then set aside in a bowl of water until needed.
  5. Mix the remaining 5 tablespoons of caster sugar with the rest of the cardamom and cinnamon, and 1 pinch of salt.
  6. Heat the oil in a wide, deep, heavy-based pan, no more than half full, to 190 ºC, use a thermometer, or drop in a piece of bread: it should turn golden in about 35″, or use a deep-fat fryer.
  7. Dunk the apple slices in the batter and fry, in batches, for 6 – 8′, or until crisp and a rich brown colour, turning regularly.
  8. Drain on a rack with kitchen paper underneath to catch the drips.
  9. Cool briefly, then toss in the spiced sugar.
  10. Snap the chocolate into a saucepan with all the other sauce ingredients and 1 pinch of salt.
  11. Melt over a medium-low heat for 2 – 3′, or until smooth and pourable.
  12. Serve the sauce immediately, alongside the warm fritters for dipping.
Source: https://www.jamieoliver.com/