Apple and Guinness Fritters

Today is national apple day, so why not celebrate this great fruit with Apple and Guinness fritters?  I have been looking for a recipe which was a little different from the usual pies and crumble (not that there is anything wrong with apple pie or crumble, as this blog will testify)

This recipe from Ireland is by Mark Hix from his excellent book, British Regional Food.

Ingredients

150ml stout

110g self raising flour + a little for dusting

1 tbsp caster sugar

Vegetable oil for deep frying

4 or 5 well flavoured eating apples

Caster sugar for dusting

Thick cream to serve

Whisk the stout into the flour to form a thick batter, add the sugar and leave to stand for 1 hour.

Pre-heat about 8cm of oil to 160-180C in a large heavy based pan or electric deep fat fryer.

Dust the slices of apple in flour and shake off the excess, then dip 4 or 5 slices at a time into the batter, shake off any excess then drop them into the hot fat.  After a minute or so, turn them with a slotted spoon so they cook evenly.

When they are golden all over remove them from the oil and drain on kitchen paper.

Repeat with the rest of the apples.

Dust with caster sugar and serve with thick cream.