SHREDDED SWEET POTATO AND CARROT FRITTERS (UKOY)

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Shredded Sweet Potato and Carrot Fritters (Ukoy) image

Frying ukoy the Bad Saint way is a very active process­-the fritter will blow apart in the oil before you tease it back together. Use a tall pot with plenty of extra room since the oil will bubble vigorously when the mix hits it.

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 Thai chiles, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
1/4 cup sugarcane vinegar or distilled white vinegar
Kosher salt
1 medium sweet potato, peeled
4 medium carrots, peeled
Kosher salt
8 cups (or more) vegetable oil
3/4 cup (or more) club soda
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 1/4 cups cornstarch
4 ounces small or medium shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems
A deep-fry thermometer

Steps:

  • Mix chiles, garlic, onion, and vinegar in a small bowl; season with salt.
  • Thinly slice sweet potatoes and carrots into 3x1/4" planks (use a mandoline if you have one), then slice lengthwise into matchsticks. Place in a medium bowl and toss with a few pinches of salt. Let sit until slightly softened, about 30 minutes. Rinse off salt and pat dry.
  • Pour oil into a large heavy pot to a depth of at least 2" but with at least a 4" headspace, as oil will bubble aggressively when you add fritters. Fit pot with thermometer; heat oil over medium-high until thermometer registers 330°F-340°F.
  • Meanwhile, combine club soda and fish sauce in a large measuring glass. Add cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Place half of sweet potato and carrot mixture, shrimp, and cilantro in a medium bowl and toss to combine. Pour in half of cornstarch slurry and toss to coat (slurry should cling to shrimp and vegetables in a light, even layer).
  • Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower half of slurry-coated vegetable and shrimp mixture into oil. Once bubbling subsides, mixture will disperse across the surface of oil. Using a spider or a clean slotted spoon, corral vegetables and shrimp by gathering them against the side of the pot until they form a large mound that clings together and can be turned as a single unit. Fry, turning occasionally and increasing heat as needed to keep oil temperature between 330°F and 340°F, until fritter is golden brown and crisp around edges, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining slurry-coated vegetable and shrimp mixture, adding a splash or so of club soda if needed to loosen batter (it should look like a glossy coating), to make another fritter.
  • Repeat entire process with remaining sweet potato and carrot mixture, cilantro, shrimp, and cornstarch slurry to make 2 more fritters.
  • Season fritters lightly with salt. Serve with chile vinegar alongside for dipping.
  • Chile vinegar can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Vegetables can be salted, drained, and patted dry 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

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