CRISPY TURKEY BITES

Crispy Turkey Bites image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 40m

Yield 16 bites

Number Of Ingredients 13

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1/2 cup cranberry sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
Vegetable oil, for frying
1 1/2 cups leftover stuffing
1 cup finely diced cooked turkey
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary
3 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
4 ounces smoked mozzarella, diced into 16 (1/2-inch) pieces
Kosher salt

Steps:

For the dipping sauce: Puree the cranberry sauce, mayonnaise and orange zest in the bowl of a food processor until evenly combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
For the bites: Heat 3 inches of vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat to 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Put the stuffing, turkey, Parmesan, rosemary and 1 egg in a medium bowl and mix well until the mixture is evenly moistened. Place the flour, remaining 2 eggs and the panko in 3 separate shallow bowls. Beat the eggs to break apart until 1 cohesive color.
Shape 1 tablespoon of the turkey mixture into a ball. Press a piece of smoked mozzarella into the middle of the ball and reshape the mixture around the cheese. Bread the ball by rolling it first in the flour to coat, then the egg and lastly the panko. Repeat with the remaining turkey mixture and breading ingredients. Fry 4 to 5 or the balls at a time until deep golden brown and hot all the way through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Serve hot alongside the dipping sauce.