Bennigan’s Broccoli Bites

 Serves 10-12 as an appetizer

Total Time: 30 mins

Broccoli Bite Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded Colby cheese
• 2 cups finely chopped broccoli
• 5 slices of bacon, finely chopped
• 3 tsp. yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbl. all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup regular breadcrumbs
• 3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/2 c/ honey
• 1-1.2 Tbl. lemon juice

Instructions:

1. After finely chopping the broccoli, if there is any moisture, dry well with paper towels. 
2. In a medium sauté page, fry chopped bacon until crispy and all the fat has rendered. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Add chopped onion to the same pan with fat still in it and fry until soft and translucent. Set aside to cool for 10 mins.  
3. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs with whisk until well blended. Add cheeses, broccoli, bacon, onion, flour, and 1 to 2 Tbl. of breadcrumbs to bowl. Stir together with a spatula until thoroughly combined and refrigerate 1 hour to help the mixture bind together. 
4. Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce by combining all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth, then refrigerate until ready to use. 
5. Heat 4 cups of oil in a deep fryer or deep pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
6. Pour breadcrumbs and Panko into a shallow pan. Remove mixture from refrigerator and form portions of 1-inch round balls. Coat each broccoli bite balls in the breadcrumbs until fully coated. 
7. Set the breaded balls on a wire rack set inside a sheet pan and let them set up for 5 minutes prior to frying. 
8. Place breaded balls in fry basket or pan, making sure they do not stick together. Fry for 1 min. the remove back to the wire racked sheet pan to drain off excess oil. 
9. Serve immediately with Honey-Mustard Dipping sauce.