Description
Crispy and gooey homemade mozzarella sticks coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs, perfectly fried to a golden brown and served with a classic marinara dipping sauce. This easy-to-make appetizer is ideal for parties, snacks, or anytime comfort food cravings strike.
Ingredients
Scale
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
- 1 quart vegetable oil (for frying)
Main Ingredient
- 12 ounces low moisture mozzarella cheese, cut into pieces 3-inch x ¾ inch (or 12 oz string cheese cut in half)
For Serving
- Homemade marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside to place coated cheese sticks on later.
- Mix Dry Coating: In a small shallow bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder thoroughly.
- Beat Eggs: In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs and 1 tablespoon of water until smooth and well combined.
- Season Panko: In a third bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with the Italian seasoning for a flavorful crust.
- Coat Cheese Sticks: Working one piece at a time, dip each cheese stick first in the egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture, dip again in the egg wash, and finally coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Arrange the coated sticks on the prepared baking sheet.
- Freeze Coated Sticks: Place the baking sheet with the coated cheese sticks in the freezer for 45 minutes to firm up and help the coating stick during frying.
- Heat Oil: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat to 350°F using a deep fat thermometer to monitor temperature accurately.
- Fry Mozzarella Sticks: Remove the frozen cheese sticks from the freezer and carefully lower a few at a time into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown on all sides, about 2 minutes.
- Drain and Cool: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried cheese sticks to a metal cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil and keep them crisp.
- Serve: Serve the mozzarella sticks hot and crispy immediately with homemade marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Freezing the cheese sticks before frying is key to preventing the cheese from melting too quickly and leaking out.
- Maintain oil temperature at 350°F for even frying and to achieve a crispy coating.
- Work in small batches to avoid overcrowding and reduce oil temperature drops.
- Use low moisture mozzarella cheese for best melting quality and structure.
- This recipe can be doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.
- Serve immediately for the best gooey texture and crunch.
