Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Recipe

Mozzarella cheese: The star of the dish, providing a gooey and melty center.

All-purpose flour: Used to coat the cheese sticks, helping the other ingredients stick.

Breadcrumbs: Creates a crispy outer layer when fried.

Eggs: Acts as a binding agent to help the breadcrumbs adhere to the cheese sticks.

Garlic powder: Adds a subtle garlic flavor to the coating.

Onion powder: Enhances the flavor with a hint of onion.

Dried oregano: Provides a touch of herbaceous flavor.

Salt: Enhances the overall taste of the cheese sticks.

Vegetable oil: Used for frying the cheese sticks to a golden brown.

To ensure the breadcrumbs adhere well to the mozzarella sticks, try double-dipping them. After the first coating of breadcrumbs, dip the sticks back into the beaten eggs and then coat them again with breadcrumbs. This creates a thicker, crunchier crust that helps prevent the cheese from oozing out during frying.

• mozzarella cheese - Substitute with string cheese: String cheese is essentially mozzarella and can be easily cut into sticks.

• mozzarella cheese - Substitute with provolone cheese: Provolone has a similar texture and melts well, making it a good alternative.

• all-purpose flour - Substitute with cornstarch: Cornstarch provides a similar coating and helps achieve a crispy texture.

• all-purpose flour - Substitute with rice flour: Rice flour is a gluten-free option that also results in a crispy coating.

• breadcrumbs - Substitute with panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and crispier, giving a better texture.

• breadcrumbs - Substitute with crushed cornflakes: Crushed cornflakes provide a crunchy texture similar to breadcrumbs.

• beaten eggs - Substitute with buttermilk: Buttermilk can help the coating adhere to the cheese sticks and adds a slight tangy flavor.

• beaten eggs - Substitute with flaxseed meal and water: Mixing flaxseed meal with water creates a binding agent similar to eggs, suitable for vegan diets.

• garlic powder - Substitute with fresh minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic offers a more intense and aromatic flavor.

• garlic powder - Substitute with garlic salt: Garlic salt can be used, but adjust the additional salt in the recipe to avoid over-salting.

• onion powder - Substitute with finely chopped onions: Finely chopped onions provide a fresh and robust onion flavor.

• onion powder - Substitute with shallot powder: Shallot powder offers a milder and sweeter onion flavor.

• dried oregano - Substitute with Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning contains oregano along with other herbs, adding a more complex flavor.

• dried oregano - Substitute with dried basil: Dried basil provides a different but complementary herb flavor.

• salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used as a direct substitute with a slightly different mineral taste.

• salt - Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt has larger grains and a cleaner taste, making it a good alternative.

• vegetable oil - Substitute with canola oil: Canola oil has a high smoke point and neutral flavor, suitable for frying.

• vegetable oil - Substitute with peanut oil: Peanut oil also has a high smoke point and adds a slight nutty flavor.

• Allow the fried mozzarella cheese sticks to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make them soggy.
• Place the cooled cheese sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This step ensures they don't stick together.
• Freeze the cheese sticks on the baking sheet for about 1-2 hours, or until they are solid. This helps maintain their shape and texture.
• Once frozen, transfer the cheese sticks to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Be sure to label the container with the date.
• For best results, store the cheese sticks in the freezer for up to 2 months. This keeps them fresh and ready for a quick snack or appetizer.
• When ready to reheat, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the frozen cheese sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake the cheese sticks for 10-12 minutes, or until they are heated through and the coating is crispy. Alternatively, you can reheat them in an air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes.
• Serve the reheated cheese sticks immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as marinara or ranch, for the best taste and texture.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Place the leftover fried mozzarella cheese sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Bake for about 5-7 minutes or until they are heated through and the cheese is melty again.
  4. For extra crispiness, you can turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes, keeping a close eye to avoid burning.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Arrange the mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  3. Heat for about 3-4 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Check for desired crispiness and melty cheese before serving.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of vegetable oil or olive oil to the skillet.
  3. Place the mozzarella sticks in the skillet and cook for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until they are heated through and crispy.
  4. Use tongs to turn them carefully to avoid breaking the cheese sticks.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the fried mozzarella cheese sticks on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover them with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out.
  3. Microwave on medium power for 15-30 seconds, checking frequently to avoid overheating.
  4. Note that this method may not retain the original crispiness, but it’s quick and convenient.

• Knife: To cut the mozzarella cheese into sticks.

• Cutting board: A surface to safely cut the mozzarella cheese.

• Mixing bowl: To mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and salt.

• Mixing bowl: To beat the eggs.

• Mixing bowl: To hold the breadcrumbs.

• Tongs: To dip each cheese stick into the flour mixture, eggs, and breadcrumbs.

• Frying pan: To heat the vegetable oil and fry the cheese sticks.

• Paper towels: To drain the excess oil from the fried cheese sticks.

• Plate: To serve the hot mozzarella cheese sticks.

Pre-cut cheese: Buy pre-cut mozzarella sticks to save time on preparation.

Assembly line: Set up an assembly line with the flour mixture, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs to streamline the coating process.

Double coat: For extra crunch, dip the cheese sticks in the egg and breadcrumb mixture twice.

Freeze before frying: Freeze the coated mozzarella sticks for 30 minutes before frying to prevent cheese from oozing out.

Batch frying: Fry multiple cheese sticks at once to reduce cooking time.