Take a Bite of Beef Corn Dogs

Alton Brown of the Food Network shares this beef corn dog recipe.

Ingredients:

1 gallon peanut oil
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp. (approximately 1 large) jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
one 8.5-oz. can cream-style corn
1/3 cup finely grated onion
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
4 Tbsp. cornstarch, for dredging
8 beef hot dogs

Special equipment: 8 sets chopsticks, not separated

Preparation:

Pour oil into a deep fryer or large heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, combine the jalapeno, corn, onion and buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once, and stir only enough times to bring the batter together; there should be lumps. Set batter aside and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Scatter the cornstarch into a dry pie pan. Roll each hot dog in the cornstarch and tap well to remove any excess.

Transfer enough batter to almost fill a large drinking glass. Refill the glass as needed. Place each hot dog on chopsticks, and quickly dip in and out of the batter. Immediately and carefully place each hot dog into the oil, and cook until coating is golden brown, about four to five minutes. With tongs, remove to cooling rack, and allow to drain for three to five minutes.

Yield: 8 corn dogs