CANNED HAM BITES

Canned Ham Bites image

Provided by Food Network

Time 34m

Yield varies depending on size

Number Of Ingredients 12

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1 cup all-purpose flour
5 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
20 saltine crackers
4 cups kettle cooked potato chips
1 can chopped pork and ham product (recommended: Spam)
Handful sliced pickles
2 pounds cream cheese
All-purpose flour for hands
Vegetable oil, for frying

Steps:

Batter: Combine all of the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
Breading: Pulse the crackers and potato chips in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer the mixture to a shallow bowl.
Filling: Cut the canned meat into chunks and put it into a food processor with the pickle slices. Pulse until the mixture becomes chunky. Do not overmix.
Roll pieces of the cream cheese into 1 1/2-ounce balls with floured hands to avoid sticking. Fatten each ball with the palm of your hand. Portion out the meat mixture to match the amount of cheese balls. Put a portion of the meat into the middle of a cheese ball and fold the cheese over the meat to enclose. Once you have a ball formed, dip it in the batter and then roll it in the cracker mixture. Repeat with the remaining cheese balls and meat.
Heat about 1-inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Gently fry the bites, in batches, until golden brown. Remove them from the oil to a serving platter and enjoy!