Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Wet Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
Main Ingredient
- 12 ounces low moisture mozzarella cheese, cut into 3-inch x ¾ inch pieces (or 12 oz string cheese cut in half)
Cooking & Serving
- 1 quart vegetable oil (for frying)
- Homemade marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare baking sheet: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to be ready for the coated cheese sticks.
- Mix dry coating: In a small shallow bowl, combine the flour, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder thoroughly.
- Prepare egg wash: In a second bowl, beat the eggs together with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth and well blended.
- Season breadcrumbs: In a third bowl, mix the Panko breadcrumbs with the Italian seasoning to evenly distribute the flavors.
- Coat cheese sticks: Working with one piece of cheese at a time, dip it first into the egg mixture, then coat evenly with the flour mixture, dip back into the egg wash, and finally press into the seasoned Panko to ensure a good coating. Place each coated stick on the prepared baking sheet.
- Freeze sticks: Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and freeze the cheese sticks for 45 minutes. This step helps prevent melting too quickly when frying.
- Heat oil: In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat the vegetable oil to 350°F, using a deep-fat thermometer to maintain temperature.
- Fry mozzarella sticks: Remove the cheese sticks from the freezer and carefully drop them into the hot oil in small batches. Fry each batch for about 2 minutes, or until the sticks are golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Drain and cool: Remove fried sticks using a slotted spoon and place them on a metal cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil.
- Serve: Serve the mozzarella sticks immediately while hot and melty, accompanied by the homemade marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Freezing the coated sticks before frying helps prevent the cheese from leaking out during cooking.
- Maintain the oil temperature at 350°F for even frying and crispy texture.
- You can substitute low moisture mozzarella with string cheese, just cut them accordingly.
- Serve immediately for best taste and texture; mozzarella sticks tend to harden if cooled and reheated.
- Use a deep pot and enough oil to submerge the sticks completely for optimal frying results.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American