Jalapeno Egg Rolls

Jalapeno Armadillo Eggs

Ingredients:

3-4 Jalapeno peppers
4 ounces cream cheese
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 lb turkey sausage
1 egg
1 tsp water
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 tsp each salt, ground coriander and ground cumin

Directions:

Preheat your broiler to its highest setting. Toss the peppers with a little canola oil and a pinch of salt. Place them on a baking sheet about 6-8 inches below the broiler and let them cook for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until the peppers blister and are charred on the outside. Remove the peppers and place them in a zip top bag for 10 minutes to cool. Peel the skins off, remove and discard the seeds, and dice the peppers. Set them aside.

In a bowl, combine the chopped cilantro, cream cheese, and roasted Jalapeno peppers and mix well. If the cream cheese is too cold to mix well, place it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and it should soften up enough. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before portioning it out. Once the mixture has set enough to handle it, prepare 16 portions of 1/2 tsp each.

Divide the sausage into 16 1-ounce portions and form them into meatballs (they should be about 1 inch in diameter). Place each ball between two pieces of parchment paper and use the bottom of a bowl or plate to press them out into little patties. Place 1/2 tsp of the cream cheese mixture in the center of the patty and close the sausage around it, ensuring to pinch the meat shut so that it won’t open during cooking. Form the stuffed sausage to look like an egg (hence the name armadillo eggs).

Place enough canola oil in a pot so that the armadillo eggs will be completely submerged when fried and heat it to 325 degrees. Beat one egg with 1 tsp of water in a bowl. Combine the bread crumbs with the spices in another bowl and whisk them together. Dip the sausage eggs in the egg mixture and then in the bread crumbs, ensuring that they are completely covered, then shake off any excess. Once all the eggs are breaded, fry them in batches for 3-3.5 minutes at 325 degrees until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove them to a paper towel-lined dish and allow them to drain for 2-3 minutes. Enjoy!