Description
Crispy, golden-fried mozzarella cheese sticks coated with a flavorful double breading, perfect as an appetizer or snack. The cheese inside is melted and gooey while the exterior is delightfully crunchy.
Ingredients
Scale
Breading Mixtures
- 0.6667 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.3333 cup cornstarch
- 1.5 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 0.25 cup water
Main Ingredient
- 1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese sticks
For Frying
- 2 cups oil for frying, or as needed
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and set up three separate bowls: one with the flour and cornstarch mixture, one with the beaten eggs and water, and one with the Italian seasoned bread crumbs combined with garlic salt.
- Coat Cheese Sticks: Dredge each mozzarella stick first in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Then dip it into the egg mixture, letting excess drip off. Press the stick into the bread crumb mixture to coat evenly. Repeat the egg dip and bread crumb coating one more time to create a double coating. Place coated sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze: Freeze the breaded mozzarella sticks for 45 minutes to firm up the coating and help prevent cheese from leaking during frying.
- Heat Oil: Heat oil in a deep fryer or a large heavy saucepan to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
- Fry Cheese Sticks: Working in batches, carefully lower 3 to 4 frozen mozzarella sticks into the hot oil using tongs or a spider spoon. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure an even golden brown color. Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain oil temperature.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the fried sticks with tongs and drain on paper towels. Serve hot and enjoy your crispy, gooey fried mozzarella sticks!
Notes
- Freezing the cheese sticks before frying is crucial to keep the cheese from oozing out during cooking.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan to maintain a stable oil temperature while frying.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the pan to ensure the sticks cook evenly and stay crispy.
- You can substitute Italian seasoned bread crumbs with panko mixed with Italian seasoning for extra crunch.
- Serve with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce for added flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (2 sticks)
- Calories: 789 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 806 mg
- Fat: 67 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 54 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 83 mg
