Sliced, Fried Avocado With Spicy Lime Crema Dipping Sauce

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons hot sauce
• 4 firm-ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and each sliced into 8 even pieces
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaf, plus
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 serrano pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
• vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 1/2 cups fine yellow cornmeal
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3/4 teaspoon spice essence, plus more for seasoning, recipe follows
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• lime wedge, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 in a medium bowl, combine buttermilk, hot sauce and avocado slices. soak for 30 minutes.
• 2 in a small bowl, combine the sour cream, lime juice, cilantro, red onion, serrano pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. stir to combine. chill until ready to use.
• 3 in a medium dutch oven or deep-fryer, fill oil to a depth of 3 to 4 inches (no more than halfway up the sides of the pan.) heat oil to 375 degrees f over medium-high heat.
• 4 combine cornmeal, flour, essence, baking powder, and the remaining teaspoon of salt in a shallow dish. dredge soaked avocado slices in the cornmeal mixture, shaking to remove excess cornmeal.
• 5 place avocado slices in the hot oil and fry until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes each side. using a slotted spoon, remove slices and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. season with additional essence. serve immediately with spicy lime crema and garnish with lime wedges.