Corn Fritters with Tomato Thyme Gravy from Vegan Finger Foods

Finger foods are, well, food you eat with your fingers. Sometimes called “tapas” or “small plates,” and they can even be appetizers. The recipes in Vegan Finger Foods by Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes are perfect for serving at parties, taking with you to potlucks, or to eat yourself as a light meal or snack.

Vegan Finger Foods explores the many types of bite-size munchies – from elegant to casual and savory to sweet. The book’s recipes are divided into 4 chapters: Veggie-Centric Finger Feasts, Stuffed and Dipped, Bread-Based Bites, and Sweet Little Somethings. Veggie-Centric Finger Feasts is a chapter where vegetables are the main star. There you’ll find recipes for such veggie-based treats as Rainbow Root Veggie Chips, Marinated Mushrooms, and Kale Cucumber Cups. In Stuffed and Dipped, you find recipes for all kinds of snacks that are stuffed with a tasty filling as well as delicious dips and sauces. Some standouts in this chapter are the Baked Mini Frittatas, Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites, and the Nacho Sauce Dip. The Bread-Based Bites chapter is full of recipes for crackers, breads, scones, and sandwiches. In Sweet Little Somethings, you’ll find lots of recipes for sweet treats, such as Better Buckeyes, Vanilla Cream Tartlets, and Brownie Nut Butter Cups.

Vegan Finger Foods arrived in April, shortly after I had major surgery, and I couldn’t quite make it into the kitchen to start cooking yet. I had originally planned on making some of the dishes in Vegan Finger Foods for a little birthday party I had in June, but I still didn’t really have the energy for it, so I set it aside for when I was feeling better. Once I started to feel like my old self again, I decided to tackle the book, and it’s a good thing I waited, because I just couldn’t stop myself from cooking more! Everything I made was eaten at home for dinner rather than served as party fare, and I discovered that the book’s recipes have a great amount of versatility to them. Rather than making The Jamaican Jerk Tempeh Skewers on toothpicks and serving them as an appetizer, I made them on large bamboo sticks and had them as the main dish for a dinner outside. Nacho Potato Skins are usually served as a snack or party dish, but I swapped the russet potatoes for sweet potatoes and served them for dinner, alongside a large salad. I made the mayo-based Pantry Raid Ranch Dip and used it as a sandwich spread rather than a dip.

Two of my favorite recipes in Vegan Finger Foodswere the Baked Jalapeños and Corn Fritters. Back in my cheese-eating vegetarian days, I probably ate my body weight in jalapeño poppers, but I haven’t had them in at least 13 years now. In this much healthier recipe, jalapeños are filled with a rich “cheese” made with cashews and white beans, and coated in a crunchy “batter” made with cornflakes and panko breadcrumbs. The Corn Fritters come together so quickly and easily that it would have been silly of menot to make them. Instead of making 16 small fritters as the recipe suggests, I made 6 larger ones, and I had to stop myself from eating them straight out of the pan.

I know I say this often when reviewing a book, but there really is something for everyone in Vegan Finger Foods. Whether you’re planning a big bash and are looking for delicious finger foods to create a buffet with, hosting a tapas dinner party, or are just looking for some tasty munchies to enjoy by yourself, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. The book is also full of Celine Steen’s gorgeous photos, which will have everyone drooling.

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Corn Fritters with Tomato Thyme Gravy

We like to serve these with Tomato Thyme Gravy, but if you’re short on time, just spike some vegan mayonnaise with hot sauce, and dip away! If you happen to have extra gravy, save it to pour over a tofu scramble, or use it as a dip with the Baked Frittata Minis.

Yields 16 to 18 fritters, 2 cups (470 ml) gravy

Author Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes

Ingredients

For the fritters:

• 1/2 cup 60 g garbanzo flour
• 1/4 cup 31 g all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons 15 g fine cornmeal (not corn flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Generous pinch ground black pepper
• 1 cup 135 g frozen corn kernels, thawed
• 2 tablespoons 14 g finely grated carrot
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon 4 g minced chives, more for garnish, if desired
• 1/4 cup 60 ml unsweetened plain vegan milk, more if needed
• High-heat neutral-flavored oil for cooking

For the gravy:

• 1/2 cup 80 g finely minced onion
• 2 tablespoons 16 g all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons 30 ml olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon (2 g) minced fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 can 15 ounces, or 425 g diced tomatoes with juice, preferably no-salt added
• 3/4 cup 180 ml tomato juice
• 1 tablespoon 15 ml Frank’s Hot Sauce, or more, to taste
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke

Instructions

To make the fritters: Combine the flours, cornmeal, baking powder, spices, salt, and pepper in medium-size bowl. Whisk to combine. Stir in the corn, carrot, and chives, followed by the milk. The mixture will be sticky, but it should be shape-able. If not, add an additional tablespoon (15 ml) milk.

1. Pour a thin layer of oil in a large skillet. Heat over medium-high heat. Using a heaping tablespoon (20 g) of the mixture, shape into a small patty about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) across, and 1/2 to 3/4 inch (1.3 to 2 cm) thick. Put the fritters into the oil and cook until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn the fritters over to cook the second side, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Drain on a paper towel and serve with the gravy.

To make the gravy: Heat the onion, flour, oil, thyme, salt, and pepper in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring 3 to 4 minutes, until the flour is cooked. Add the remaining ingredients, and simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. The gravy may be made ahead, covered, and refrigerated for up to 48 hours. Heat over low heat to serve.

Recipe Notes

From Vegan Finger Foods by Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes. Reprinted by permission from Fair Winds Press.