85 deep fried recipes

Spells & Bells are festive Christmas cookies cut into holiday shapes and deep fried until golden and puffed, then served plain, sugared or glazed. A cream-rich fried dough that's crisp outside and tender within.

Sake-marinated tofu pan-fried golden and tossed with rehydrated shiitake mushrooms, garlic, fresh chiles, and soy. A hearty vegetarian stir-fry with serious umami depth.

Gateaux piments, Mauritian chilli cakes made from soaked chana dal, green chilies, turmeric, and fresh herbs. Deep-fried into crispy golden fritters.

Deep-fried fruit cookies with a jelly center, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, then dusted in powdered sugar. Crispy outside, jammy inside.

Kobeba samakeyah are Lebanese fish-filled bulgur croquettes seasoned with cumin and cilantro, deep-fried golden, and served with homemade tahini sauce. A Middle Eastern classic.

Moong samosa filled with spiced mung beans, asafetida, mustard seeds, and amchur (green mango powder), deep-fried in ghee until golden. A vegetarian Indian snack with bold, tangy flavor.

Savory pumpkin fritters with canned pumpkin, eggs, and a hint of pepper, deep-fried golden. Serve with ham or bacon for a heritage brunch classic.

Tofu wontons with ginger, garlic, and sesame oil filling, ready for deep frying or boiling in soup. Freezer-friendly for up to 2 months.

Oven-fried zucchini sticks bread fresh zucchini in a whole wheat flour and cornmeal mix, then bake on a hot sheet pan until golden crisp. No deep fryer, no guilt.

Old-fashioned cake doughnuts made from scratch with nutmeg and vanilla, deep-fried and dusted with sugar. No yeast, no rising time, no fuss.

Crispy deep-fried mushrooms stuffed with savory pork, water chestnuts, and vegetables. These Chinese appetizers are golden and crunchy, perfect for parties. Makes 24.

Banana corn fritters balance sweet mashed banana and warm cinnamon against a smoky chipotle kick. Pan-seared golden, then oven-finished so they puff up light without deep-frying.

Portzilke are traditional German-Russian yeasted fritters loaded with raisins, fried golden in deep fat. A heritage pastry from the Volga German tradition, puffy and sweet.

Tex-Mex tostadas with deep-fried flour tortillas piled with pork, Rotel tomatoes, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, avocado, and sour cream. Family-style Southwest dinner.

Crispy oven-baked chicken coated in a crunchy oat and Parmesan crust with paprika. A Quaker Oats classic that gives you golden, crunchy chicken without deep frying.

Deep-fried asparagus spears coated in egg wash and bread crumbs, finished with freshly grated Romano cheese. Blanched first for a tender center with a crispy shell.