Description
Crispy golden mozzarella sticks bring Italian-American comfort right to kitchen counters. Melted cheese wrapped in crunchy breadcrumbs creates perfect finger-food magic that will delight you at first delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound whole milk mozzarella block or 15 whole milk string cheese
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups plain panko
- 2 large eggs
Seasoning:
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cooking Ingredient:
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Pulverize panko breadcrumbs in a sealed plastic bag using a rolling pin until they transform into ultra-fine crumbs.
- Transfer crushed panko to a shallow container and incorporate Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and kosher salt to enhance the coating’s flavor profile.
- Crack two large eggs into a separate shallow bowl and whisk thoroughly until completely blended and uniform in color.
- Populate a third shallow dish with all-purpose flour for initial mozzarella stick preparation.
- Slice a full-fat mozzarella block horizontally into 15 uniform rectangular sticks measuring approximately 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) wide.
- Methodically coat each cheese stick: first roll in flour, gently shaking off excess powder, then submerge completely in whisked egg mixture, allowing surplus liquid to drip away.
- Roll the egg-coated cheese stick meticulously through seasoned panko breadcrumbs, ensuring comprehensive and even coverage.
- Arrange breaded mozzarella sticks on a wire cooling rack positioned above baking sheets, then refrigerate for minimum 60 minutes to solidify breading and prevent cheese leakage during frying.
- Prepare a medium-sized saucepan by filling with 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) of vegetable oil, inserting a cooking thermometer to monitor temperature precisely until it reaches 175°C (350°F).
- Carefully introduce two chilled mozzarella sticks into hot oil, frying until exterior becomes golden-brown and crispy, approximately 60-90 seconds per batch.
- Transfer fried mozzarella sticks onto paper towel-lined plates to absorb excess oil, allowing brief cooling period before serving alongside warm marinara sauce for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Crushing panko crumbs in a Ziploc bag ensures ultra-fine texture for maximum crispiness on mozzarella sticks.
- Seasoning the panko with Italian herbs, parsley, garlic powder, and salt transforms basic breadcrumbs into a flavor-packed coating.
- Establishing a three-step dredging station with flour, beaten eggs, and seasoned crumbs creates the perfect crispy exterior.
- Freezing breaded cheese sticks for at least an hour helps prevent cheese from leaking during frying and maintains structural integrity.
- Maintaining oil temperature at precisely 350°F guarantees golden-brown exterior while keeping cheese perfectly melted inside.
- Draining fried sticks on paper towels removes excess oil, ensuring a crunchy texture without greasiness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 15
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg