The Minnesota State Fair Serves Up Wine-Fried Kalettes and Deep-Fried Sriracha

While we have a lot of faith in hearty Minnesotans’ sense of adventure, some of these goodies might challenge even the most food-crazed among us. What to try first at the Minnesota Great Get-Together? Let us begin.

Sriracha Balls

Judging by all the "vintage" Sriracha t-shirts seen around town this spring, the spicy condiment is still uber popular. How about some deep fried balls to go with it? You can choose from a concoction of shredded chicken, corn, tomatoes, egg and Sriracha, or Sriracha cream cheese with corn, tomatoes and egg, rolled into little balls and fried to a golden crisp. Available at Boulevard Grill, located at the Warner Coliseum.

Wine Fried Kalettes

It’s a safe bet that kalettes, a new hybrid of kale and brussels sprouts, are not a staple at any state fair, but don’t they sound delicious? Healthy, almost. At the Minnesota Wine Country stand, they dip these beauties in batter, fry ‘em up in wine and serve them with sweet Thai chili sauce. We hear wine is good for you, too.

Tikka on a Stikka

Hot Indian, a popular food truck and stall, will set up shop for six days at the rotating Taste of Midtown Global Market booth at International Bazaar. One of their offerings, Tikka on a Stikka, is a serving of chicken marinated in Indian spices and yogurt, char grilled and smothered in tikka sauce. Available Aug. 27 – Sept. 1.

Hot Tail

From September 2nd to the 7th, Rabbit Hole will take over the Taste of Midtown Market booth and offer brave fair-goers a roasted pig tail coated in a scallion ginger sauce. If that’s too far outside of your on-a-stick comfort zone, try their Kimchi 'n' Curry Poutine, a plate of braised pork and potatoes, smothered with curry gravy and cheddar cheese, and topped with kimchi and a poached egg. Breakfast of champions.

Crazy Ice Cream

It being August in Minnesota, chances are it will be hot and sweltering for at least part of the fair’s 12 day run. Cool off with some of this year’s more intriguing ice cream flavors, like BBQ Pickle Ice Cream at R&R Ice Cream, Caramel Chocolate-Dipped Bacon Ice Cream Bar at Pat’s Place or Chocolate Jalapeño Ice Cream at Rainbow Ice Cream.

JohnnyPops photo courtesy Facebook

JonnyPops

Do a good deed and enjoy a delicious treat at Jonnypops. The company, started by a young group of friends in honor of their buddy Jonathan, who died of a drug overdose, donates a portion of their proceeds to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. JonnyPops offers wholesome frozen treats using all-nature ingredients, including this year’s addition: a Chocolate-Dipped Cherry On-a-Spoon JonnyPop.

Check out the full list of new foods right here.

- by Alex Lodner