Fried ice cream facts for kids
Fried ice cream served at a Thai restaurant
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | Ice cream |
Fried ice cream is a super cool dessert where a scoop of ice cream gets a warm, crispy coating! Imagine biting into something crunchy and warm, but finding cold, creamy ice cream inside. It's made by freezing a scoop of ice cream very hard. Then, it's covered in things like bread crumbs or a special batter. Finally, it's quickly deep-fried. This quick frying makes the outside warm and crispy, while the inside stays deliciously frozen.
Contents
Where Did Fried Ice Cream Come From?
The exact beginning of fried ice cream is a bit of a mystery. There are a few different stories about how this yummy dessert started.
Early Ideas and Inventions
Some people believe it was first served at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. This was the same big event where the ice cream sundae was also created!
Another story from 1894 gives credit to a company in Philadelphia. They described making it by wrapping a small, frozen piece of ice cream in a thin pie crust. This was then quickly dipped into hot oil or butter to cook the outside until it was crispy. The ice cream inside stayed perfectly frozen.
Japanese Tempura Connection
A third idea, which became popular in the 1960s, suggests that fried ice cream was invented by Japanese tempura restaurants. Tempura is a Japanese dish where food is lightly battered and deep-fried. This cooking style might have inspired the idea of frying ice cream.
Fried Ice Cream Around the World
Fried ice cream has become popular in many places, often linked to different types of food.
In the United States
In the United States, fried ice cream is often found in Asian cuisine restaurants. You might see it on the menu at Chinese, Japanese, or Polynesian places.
It also became very popular in Mexican cuisine. A big restaurant chain called Chi-Chi's helped make it famous in the early 1980s. Their special fried ice cream was made with tortillas and cinnamon.
In Australia
In Australia, fried ice cream is also strongly connected to Asian food, especially Australian Chinese cuisine. It's often served with a sweet caramel sauce.
How Is Fried Ice Cream Made?
Making fried ice cream is a clever trick that keeps the ice cream from melting!
The Freezing Trick
First, a scoop of ice cream is frozen much colder than usual. This makes it super hard.
Coating the Ice Cream
Next, the very cold ice cream is coated. Sometimes, it's dipped in raw egg. Then, it's rolled in things like cornflakes, cookie crumbs, or even tortilla pieces.
Quick Frying
Finally, the coated ice cream is quickly deep-fried. Because the ice cream is so incredibly cold, it doesn't melt during the short time it's in the hot oil. The outside gets warm and crispy, while the inside stays frozen and creamy.
Popular Toppings and Flavors
After frying, it can be sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Some people add a touch of peppermint, whipped cream, or honey.
In Asian restaurants, the recipe often uses a special tempura batter for the coating. Popular flavors in Asian restaurants include green tea, vanilla, taro, and red bean. Mexican versions often use corn flakes, nuts, cookie crumbs, or tortillas for their coating.
See also
In Spanish: Helado frito para niños
