Fried Feta BLT Sandwiches

*Recipe from my cookbook, Eat Delicious! Grab a copy of the book here.

BEST BLT EVER!!! Make this recipe y’all.

Fried Feta BLT Sandwiches

Makes 4 sandwiches

Fried Feta Deliciousness

Canola  (or vegetable) oil, for frying

One 14-ounce (400 gram) block feta cheese

½ cup all-purpose flour

2 large free-range eggs, whisked

1 cup breadcrumbs

Pinch of sea salt & pepper

Herb-Spiked Mayo

1 cup your favorite mayo

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Sea salt & pepper, to taste

To build the sandwiches 

8 slices thick-cut smoked bacon

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

8 slices sourdough bread

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

8 burger-sized lettuce leaves

1 large tomato, cut into thin rounds

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the bacon on it in a single layer. Baste the bacon with maple syrup and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning half way through, until crispy & golden brown. Transfer to a rack. The maple will candy around the bacon as it cools.
3. Brush the bread slices with olive oil on both sides and toast in a large skillet over medium heat until browned (about 2 minutes per side). Set aside.
4. In a bowl, combine all of the mayo ingredients and mix well. Chill in the fridge until it’s sandwich building time.
5. In a deep saucepan, heat 1-inch of canola oil over medium heat  to 350°F. .
6. Slice the feta into 4 even slabs, ½-inch thick. Prepare three bowls: one with the flour, one with the eggs (whisk them lightly with a fork), and one with the breadcrumbs and a pinch of salt and pepper. Coat each slab of feta completely by dredging it in the flour, then the eggs, and lastly the panko mixture. Fry the cheese  until golden brown, about 1 ½ to 2 minutes per side.
7. Build each sandwich with 1 tablespoon mayo, lettuce, tomato, two slices of bacon, and a square of fried feta. DELICIOUS!