Panko-Breaded Fried Grits Cakes

Try this tasty fried alternative to plain grits as a great side dish. Serve plain or with syrup or honey.

Step: 1

Bring water and salt to a boil in a pot over high heat. Add grits and reduce heat to low. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 3 to 4 minutes.

Step: 2

Pour grits into a greased loaf pan and let cool slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour to overnight.

Step: 3

Remove chilled grits from the pan and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Place beaten eggs into a shallow dish and panko bread crumbs in another; dip each slice of grits into eggs, followed by bread crumbs.

Step: 4

Heat butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry breaded grits slices in the hot butter until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Season with salt.

Per Serving: 350 calories; protein 8.2g; carbohydrates 40.6g; fat 18.7g; cholesterol 133.7mg; sodium 361mg.

The most obvious way to choose a side dish is to look at your main dish (pasta, chicken, seared tofu) and pick more different. When you’re cooking pasta, go for a simple vegetable . Making steak? Go for something light. If you’re want to cooking stir-fry with rice, it must not a good idea to also make a rice salad.

This also can apply to cooking process . You don’t want to overcommit your oven by scheduling three dishes at once in there, or be juggling four pans on the stovetop . But sometimes you can made a dish do double-duty .