Fried Broccoli with Horseradish Cream Sauce

This past August I took a trip to Nashville with some lovely ladies for my friend Drew's bachelorette celebration... we had an absolute blast! Nashville is just an awesome city all around... the people are incredibly friendly, the city is quaint and cheery, and live music greets you at every bend.

Drew's crew posing in front of our 'Sproket Rocket' bicycle tour. I thought this was going to be a leisurely 2-hour 'pedal' tour on a bike that's run on a motor... boy, was I mistaken. I sweat the whole time (but so much fun!) 

Just when I thought the city couldn't get any better, I tried the food... insanely delicious! Each restaurant we went to (props to the maid of honor and the bridesmaids for choosing some fabulous eateries) was more delicious then the next. The ingredients were fresh, and the menu selections were very innovative.

My favorite of all the restaurants we hit was Pinewood Social. A funky spot in the heart of Nashville, this 'social gathering place' has lots more to offer its guests then just food. It touts a bowling alley, living room area, and outdoor pool among many other things. The living room is even stocked with old-school board games which we clearly took advantage of...

Here's the beautiful bride-to-be getting down with a little game of Connect Four at Pinewood Social

When we sat down to eat brunch the food did not disappoint. After downing one (or two) of the restaurant's homemade Bloody Mary's, we placed an order for what ended up being - dare I say it - my favorite meal of the trip: fried broccoli. Yes, fried broccoli. The deep fried vegetable was sprinkled with a little bit of lemon zest and sea salt, and then served with an almond garlic dipping sauce.

We were so obsessed with this broccoli and I immediately attempted to re-create it when I got back home. Rather than an almond garlic dipping sauce I opted for Alton Brown's Horseradish Cream Sauce which is tried and true and delicious.

So here's how you make it...

Put the broccoli in a single layer in your fry pan

Drop it in your hot oil

Wait until they turn nice and brown

Ta-da! Fried deliciousness!

Molly liked them...

They didn't stay on the table for too long.

And Paisley is clearly pissed she couldn't have any.

Let me know what you think!

Fried Broccoli with Horseradish Cream Sauce

Ingredients

Serves 2-4 as an appetizer

For the broccoli... 

3 lbs of broccoli florets
Sea salt
Vegetable oil (for frying)

For the horseradish cream sauce... 
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup horseradish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. The horseradish cream sauce should be prepared ahead of time since it needs to sit for at least 4 hours (I promise, it's worth it). To make the sauce, place all of the ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours - or overnight if you can - until you're ready to serve.
2. Fill your deep fryer with the appropriate amount of vegetable oil (I usually fill it between the minimum and maximum line) and heat to 325 degrees. You could also do this without a deep fryer (visit Serious Eats for instructions). 
3. Rinse the broccoli and thoroughly dry it (otherwise the oil will splash back at you when you drop it in the deep fryer). Then cut off the heads of the broccoli florets and discard the stems. You want them to be bite-sized (and appropriate for dipping).
4. Once your deep fryer is fully heated, create a single layer of broccoli in your frying basket. Submerge the broccoli in the oil, and close the lid. 
5. After 3-5 minutes, the tips of the broccoli will start to brown slightly, which means they're done. Take the broccoli out and allow the basket to completely drain, and then transfer the broccoli to a baking sheet or bowl lined with a few sheets of paper towel (this is really important! the paper towels need to absorb some of the oil so the broccoli gets crunchy). Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all the broccoli has been fried. 
6. Transfer the fried broccoli to a large bowl and toss with a couple of sprinkles of sea salt to taste. 
7. Serve alongside the horseradish cream sauce and enjoy!