Pimento and Cheese Fritters

Ingredients:

  20 oz jalapeno pimento and cheese (I like Palmetto)

  1 cup panko bread crumbs

  1  cup all purpose flour

  1 egg, beaten

  Salt, to taste

  Pepper, to taste

 Oil for frying

  Pepper jelly or Hot Honey

  Parsley or herbs to garnish

Instructions:

Use a spoon to scoop pimento and cheese.  Roll into balls.  Place in the freezer until hard.  Mix salt, pepper and flour together in one bowl.  Beat egg in another bowl. Pour panko out in another bowl.  Heat oil on medium high heat.  Coat each ball with flour mixture.  Dip it into the beaten egg making sure the egg is covering all of the ball.  Finally, completely coat the ball in panko.  Place the balls into hot oil and roll around until all sides are toasted well.  Remove from oil and drain excess oil on a paper towel.  If using jelly, warm until it is liquified.  Pour a little onto a serving dish.  Place fritters on top of jelly or honey.  Drizzle tops with additional jelly/honey.

We first had these while staying at The Read House in Chattanooga. This is not the exact recipe, but Joni put together a close recipe.  They are delicious!  You can make up the balls and freeze before frying.