Gratifyingly Crunchy Bacon Grits Pops

Hey you!  Feel like trying something satisfyingly crunchy, nutritious and make your taste buds pop with rich flavours?  Come on, let me show you this Gratifyingly Crunchy Bacon Grits Pops!

Gratifyingly Crunchy Bacon Grits Pops

If you've never had grits before, you're probably wondering what they are and thinking to yourself, "they sure don't sound appetizing.."  Hahaha, yes, I have to admit I feel the same at first..  Grits is a dish of coarsely grounded corn kernel boiled with milk or water.   It's generally a Southern breakfast dish, very similar to porridge but has since been transformed into various creative delicious meals, one of them being this crowd pleasing appetizer, crunchy bacon grits pops.

All you need are as follows:

½ cup uncooked quick cooking grits

2 cups milk

½ t salt

¾ cup shredded white Cheddar cheese

¼ cup cooked and finely crumbled bacon (about 4 slices)

1 finely chopped green onions

¼ t ground pepper

1 egg

½ cup Japanese panko breadcrumbs

Vegetable oil

Directions:

Place milk, grit and salt in a pot, cook according to package direction.

Once cooked, remove from heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.

Add bacon, green onion, cheese and ground pepper:

Stir to combine and place it in a container with a lid.  Place in the refrigerator and chill overnight.

The next day, heat and prepare pan with oil for deep frying.  In the meantime, take grits mixture out of the fridge.  Cut them into 16 pieces and roll them into balls:

Place breadcrumbs (panko) in one bowl.  Beat the egg and ⅛ cup of water together in another bowl.  Prepare the "coating" assembly line:

first grits balls:

then egg mixture:

finally followed by breadcrumbs:

Covering every square inch..

Place grits ball, one at a time, gently into the heated oil, deep fry until golden:

Place cooked ones on a paper towelled plate to soak up the oil for a few minutes:

Then transfer to a serving platter.  All done!

Here you go try it:

Mmmmm you gotta love the crunch (and that one piece of green onion sticking out! ; )

'Till next time,

xox Lily.

2016-5-26