Fried, pickle-filled fairground delicacies and funnel cake frenzy

Fairgoers should prepare their taste buds for a treat at this year’s Indiana State Fair, with 43 new creations set to satisfy even the most adventurous eaters. The Indianapolis Recorder broke down the “taste of the fair” to make each food fair worth the price of admission. Here are our must-try picks from each category:

Savory:

Barbecued Totchos, Wagner Food Services:Tator tots + nachos = the ultimate indulgence. A bed of crispy potatoes topped with pulled pork, cheese sauce, jalapenos, sour cream and barbecue sauce makes this creation from Urick Concessions a must-try.

Fried BBQ Sugar Cookies with Apple Butter Sauce, Nitro Hog Barbecue: A fried biscuit rolled in sugar and stuffed with pulled pork, this savory creation from Nitro Hog BBQ is topped with BBQ apple butter for those craving something sweet and savory on a hot summer day.

Hoosier Cowboy Sandwich, Indiana Beef Cattlemen’s Association: A collaboration between the Indiana Beef Cattle Association and the American Dairy Association Indiana, this perfectly melted blend of pepper jack cheese and ribeye steak is guaranteed to bring nostalgia to every Hoosier who indulges in it.

Spicy Pickle Pizza, Swains Concessions: Dough, then jalapeno ranch dressing, then mozzarella, then pickle chips, then Cajun powder, then… eat! Dig into this new salty fairground food and discover the taste of cheese.

Godfather Egg Roll, J&J A taste of catering and food truck service at home: You come to see me on my daughter’s wedding day and bring me an egg roll stuffed with spaghetti, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese? Fuhgeddaboudit.

Also on the list,

• Aloha Spicy Honey Chicken Nachos, Urick Concessions

• Smashburger bison tacos, Red Frazier Food Truck

• Bratzilla, Urick Concessions

• Cheese and chili empanada, New fields

• Fried Corn with Cheese and Chili in a Cup, Wilson Concessions

• Sauce and potatoes, Colp’s concessions

• Grilled Cheese, a delight Freund Family Food

• Happy Sandwich Jack, Vegan Black Leaf

Black Vendors at 2023 Indiana State Fair (indianapolisrecorder.com)

• Grilled cheese croque-monsieur with pepperoni and spicy honey, American Dairy Producers Association

• Indiana Poké Pork Chops, Indiana Pork Producers

• Jerk Chicken Nachos, Jamaican Breeze Sports Bar & Grill

• Melted cheese croque, American Dairy Producers Association

• Peanut Butter and Jelly Chicken Wings, Urick Concessions

• Sweet and spicy pork pizza, Ginocchio Pizza

• Suga Daddy Sweet Chilli Sub, Gobble Gobble Food Truck

• Tang-A-Rang Smoked Chicken Wings with Kool-Aid Pickles, Red Frazier Food Truck

• The All Fried, South West Concessions

• Korean Corn Dog, Meatball Factory LLC

• Ultimate Steak Nachos, Georgia’s Kitchen

The Sweet:

Elephant ears stuffed with blueberry cheesecake, The Baker : For ten years, the baker has been serving elephant ears stuffed with apple, cherry or peach. This year, it’s blueberry that’s in the spotlight!

Crispy Cinnamon Toast Funnel Cake, R&W Concessions: Funnel cake is a classic, but R&W Concessions is taking it to the next level this year with their Cinnamon Toast Crunch version. Layered on a classic, steaming funnel cake, this creation is topped with cinnamon, sugar, cereal and drizzled with vanilla frosting.

Fried Golden Oreos, Orme Depp’s Fried Treats: Golden Oreos are celebrating this year at the Orme Deep Fried Treats booth. The classic deep-fried Oreos have been a fan favorite for years, but for those who prefer vanilla, this is the sweet treat for you. Coated in funnel cake mix and deep-fried, these treats put the “gold” in Golden Oreos.

Also on the list,

• Amish Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites, Wilson Concessions

• Elephant Ear Cookie Butter, Urick Concessions

• Fried ice cream cone, Freud Family Foods

• Strawberry Cheesecake Funnel Cake, LT Concessions

• Strawberry shortbread tart, Twisted Foods and Drinks

The sips:

Marie, all American, Urick Concessions: Bringing barbecue to the fair, Urick Concessions has created the ultimate Bloody Mary for those thirsty and hungry at the fair this year. A traditional Bloody Mary at heart, the cocktail is topped with a mini corn on the cob, a cheeseburger, fried macaroni and cheese, fried pickles, waffle fries, a hot dog and a mini apple pie.

Boba Lemonade Shake, Indiana Rib Steak: Taking inspiration from the boba trend, Indiana Ribeye adds an extra pop of flavor to traditional lemon shakes. Available in a variety of flavors, these additions will make for a refreshing and refreshing drink for your summer outing.

Dr. Pepper Dill Pickle, Urick Concessions: The number two selling beverage in the United States, Dr. Pepper, is coming to the fair, one bite at a time. The frozen beverage will be garnished with dill pickle spears and a little pickle juice for those looking for a tangy kick.

Sweet tea granita, Swains Concessions: For those craving iced tea at the fair, this slushy is for you. Swains Concessions has combined the traditional Hoosier delicacy into an iced version to keep freshly brewed tea cooler for longer while you wait for the kids to finish their third ride.

Also on the list,

• Blue Ribbon Blueberry Milkshake, American Dairy Producers Association

• Chocolate, caramel and coffee float: “The Triple C float”, Hook’s Drug Store Museum and Soda Fountain

• Lemon and Dill Pickle Shake-Up, Urick Concessions

• Peach Shake Up, Hello and powerful

• Shark attack, Twisted Foods and Drinks

• Sun King’s State Fair Pickle Beer, Sun King Brewery

• Tropical Daze Float, McGrotha Foods

Fairgoers who sample any of the foods on this list will be able to vote for their favorite dishes to win the “Taste of the Fair” fan favorites contest using QR codes at each booth. The winner will receive $2,500, second place $1,000 and third place $500. The top three finishers will earn an entry to the World Food Championships, which will be held on the fairgrounds in November.

The fair will run from August 2 to 18. For more information, to purchase tickets and to view a concessions map, visit indianastatefair.com.

Contact editor Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.