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![Fried Gulf Shrimp Boil]()
"Everything you would expect in a shrimp boil rolled into a ball, dusted with Fish Fry, and fried to a golden brown! Baby gulf shrimp, diced red potatoes, onion, lemon and seasoning are formed around a cocktail shrimp, dusted and fried with the tail sticking out for a handle. Served with a remoulade sauce." Recipe by Clint Probst.![Deep Fried Texas Bluebonnet]()
"The Deep Fried Texas Bluebonnet is a blueberry muffin, scone-style batter that is stuffed with cream cheese, blueberries and sweet morsels of white chocolate. It is baked and deep fried to a perfect golden brown. This mountain of flavor is topped off with whipped cream, chopped white chocolate morsels, powdered sugar, blueberries and a delicious blueberry glaze." Recipe by Isaac Rousso.![Deep Fried 'Breakfast for Dinner']()
"A twist on a favorite American dinner — "Breakfast for Dinner." This is a 10-inch flour tortilla stuffed with eight favorite breakfast items — scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, bacon, potatoes, ham, onion, cheddar cheese and gooey cinnamon roll bits — that are deep fried until golden brown and served with a creamy country gravy, salsa and a pico-queso dip." Recipe by Edna Sutton and Tom Grace.![Chicken Fried Loaded Baked Potato]()
"The creamy and moist insides of a baked potato, loaded with generous amounts of butter, bacon and cheddar cheese, are coated and battered with a delectable blend of spices and flour that create a perfect combination of fried crispy crust and delicious, creamy loaded baked potato. Served with a ranch dipping sauce." Recipe by Butch Benavides.![Fried Sriracha Balls]()
"A lip-smacking combination of shredded chicken, corn, green chilies, tomatoes and Sriracha hot sauce, formed into balls and coated with crispy tortilla chips. It is then flash-fried until golden brown. For those who like their food higher on the Scoville Scale, extra Sriracha Sauce is available." Recipe by Mark Zable.![Twisted Texas Tacos]()
"What do you get when you combine the four major food groups of Texas? Chicken Fried, Barbecue, Tex-Mex, and Chili — Twisted Texas Tacos! This taco starts off with tender, juicy, hickory smoked Texas beef brisket, double-dipped in a barbecue spiced buttermilk batter and deep fried until it is robust and beefy. It is served in a warm flour tortilla, generously layered with a Mexican cheese blend, crispy fried okra, and a sweet and crunchy tri-color slaw, accented with zesty poblano and sweet pepper corn. Served with a creamy country gravy, spicy Texas Chili, and a miniature salute from the Lone Star flag." Recipe by Christi Erpillo.![Original State Fair Brew: Funnel Cake Ale]()
"A light and delicious ale brewed to be reminiscent of one of the tell-tale flavors of the State Fair — FUNNEL CAKE! This refreshing English-style summer ale brewed with the help of Community Beer Company has been brewed to be ready and crisp, with just the right amount of toastiness and sweetness, finishing with delicate notes of natural vanilla; all great flavors you find in a perfectly executed funnel cake. For those whose taste buds call for a sweeter finish, take advantage of the option to have the rim of your cup coated with powdered sugar. Must be 21 years of age." Recipe by Justin Martinez.![Fried Sweet Texas]()
"Traveling across Texas to try the best and most popular desserts gave inspiration for this fried treat. Fried Sweet Texas starts with fresh pie dough filled with crunchy pecan pie, juicy peach cobbler and creamy buttermilk pie. It is then deep-fried until the crust is golden brown and flaky, and then served up with a side of Texas' own Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream. A real tribute to Texans and their amazing sweet treats!" Recipe by Justin Martinez.The Fried Food Finalists at the Big Tex Choice Awards
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, but what they don't mention is that it's also deep-fried. HOW TO: Deep Fry Food Like a Pro This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Big Tex Choice Awards at the annual State Fair of Texas, in which several innovative (and bizarre) recipes will compete for a chance to win prizes for the "Best Tasting" and "Most Creative" dish. Almost all of the entries (photos below) are deep-fried in one way or another, the only exceptions being a taco (containing deep-fried meat) and a beer (flavored like deep-fried funnel cake). However, these kinds of recipes aren't at all unusual for the Big Tex Choice Awards, as deep-frying has always been a common theme among entrants. In fact, the past winners of the Big Tex Choice Awards — without exception — have all been deep-fried items, such as deep-fried bubblegum, fried beer, and fried Thanksgiving dinner balls. This year, winners will be chosen prior to the start of the fair on Labor Day, with only a select few tickets being offered to the public. Hungry fair-goers will later have a chance to taste the two winning creations at the actual State Fair of Texas, beginning on September 26 and running through October 1. PHOTO: Milwaukee Restaurant Garnishes Their Bloody Mary With Entire Fried Chicken Can't wait? Have a look at this year's eight finalists along with the official description of each dish, courtesy of Facebook:
- The Fried Food Finalists at the Big Tex Choice Awards
