Description
Spicy jalapeño bites blend classic American hot dog charm with zesty cheese excitement. Quick party appetizers offer a crowd-pleasing snack that delivers mouthwatering flavors you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 hot dogs
- 4 thin slices of cheddar cheese, room temperature
- 1 jalapeño, minced
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (140 g) yellow cornmeal
- ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 mL) milk
- 1 egg
- 1 quart (960 mL) peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
- Mustard, for serving
Instructions
- Meticulously wrap each hot dog with a slice of cheese, securing it tightly with a wooden skewer to prevent unwrapping during cooking.
- Position the cheese-encased hot dogs seam-side down on a clean baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching each other.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer for approximately 20 minutes, allowing the cheese and hot dogs to firm up and create a stable base for battering.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Create a well in the center of the dry mixture and pour in whole milk, a beaten large egg, and finely minced jalapeño peppers.
- Gently whisk the ingredients until a smooth, consistent batter forms, adjusting the consistency by adding small amounts of flour if the mixture appears too thin.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot or heavy-bottomed Dutch oven to precisely 350°F (180°C), using a digital thermometer for accuracy.
- Pour the prepared batter into a tall, narrow glass to facilitate easy and even coating of the frozen hot dogs.
- Carefully dip each frozen cheese-wrapped hot dog into the batter, allowing excess to drip off and ensuring a thin, even coating.
- Slowly lower the battered hot dogs into the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding the pot to maintain oil temperature.
- Fry the hot dog bites for 3-5 minutes, rotating occasionally to achieve a uniform golden-brown and crispy exterior.
- Remove the hot dog bites using a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drain on a wire rack lined with paper towels.
Notes
- Freeze hot dogs with cheese before battering to help the coating stick better and prevent cheese from melting during frying.
- Use wooden skewers for easy handling and creating perfect bite-sized appetizers that are great for parties or game day snacking.
- Adjust batter thickness by adding more flour if it’s too runny, ensuring a crispy and even coating on the hot dogs.
- Maintain oil temperature at 350°F for optimal frying, creating a golden-brown exterior without absorbing excess oil.
- Drain fried hot dog bites on paper towels to remove extra oil and keep the coating crisp and appetizing.
- Serve immediately while hot and crispy for the best texture and flavor explosion.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 353 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg