2red bird's eye chili(seeded and finely minced) -optional
Smoked paprika
Instructions
Put the cornmeal and flour into a bowl, add your beer, and leave to sit for a few minutes. Add the corn, sliced scallions, grated cheese, minced bird's eye chili (if using) and a pinch of salt and pepper and use a fork or a spoon to mix it up really well. Once your batter is ready, pour your vegetable oil into a large, sturdy saucepan and put it on a high heat
You want the oil to reach 350 F, so if you don't have a thermometer, get a small piece of potato and drop it into the pan. When it turns crisp and golden and rises to the top, the oil is ready to go. Get a tablespoon of mix and carefully drop it into the hot oil. In Georgia, they roll the batter into round balls, but let it drop off the spoon and it gives you the rustic look, which I like. You'll need to cook them in batches
Fry for about 3-4 minutes, then remove with perforated spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle over a tiny bit of sea salt and a ahit of paprika to finish them off, and serve right away, either on their own or, as they do at roadside restaurants, as part of a meal with pork and slaw. Naughty but nice