Mozzarella Sticks
Hot, crunchy, gooey and salty, mozzarella sticks check all the boxes. For a crisp crust that sticks to the gooey cheese, use low-moisture mozzarella, and double coat it in flour, egg and panko. (For a smart shortcut, use store-bought string cheese; it will be slightly thinner than hand-cut cheese.) Freezing the breaded sticks before frying ensures that the coating adheres and doesn’t fall off in the hot oil, so don’t skip that step. Serve the classic snack with pizza sauce, or homemade or jarred marinara.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 20 persons
Ingredients
- 1pound whole-milk low-moisture (not fresh) mozzarella
- ½cup all-purpose flour
- 4large eggs
- 2 ½cups plain panko
- 3teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- ½teaspoon garlic powder
- ½teaspoon onion powder
- ½teaspoon black pepper
- Warm marinara or pizza sauce, for serving
- Vegetable oil, for frying (about 7 cups)
Instructions
Step 1
Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top. Slice the mozzarella into sticks, about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in another shallow bowl. In a third bowl, combine the panko, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Taste the panko mix for seasoning, keeping in mind that mozzarella may be salty.Step 2
Coat all sides of a cheese stick in flour, shaking off excess. Next, dip it in the egg, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl. Finally, press the stick gently in the panko so all sides are completely coated. Repeat the process, coating a second time. Place the cheese stick on the prepared sheet pan fitted with the wire rack and repeat with the remaining mozzarella slices. Transfer the breaded cheese sticks to the freezer. Freeze until frozen, about 2 hours.Step 3
Fill a deep, heavy-bottomed pot with 2 inches of oil. Heat over medium-high until the temperature reaches 350 degrees. Line a large plate with paper towels. Working in batches of 3 or 4 to avoid overcrowding, fry the breaded cheese sticks, turning a couple times, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate and serve hot (see Tip 2) with pizza or marinara sauce for dipping. Maintain the oil temperature as needed; if it gets too hot, the cheese will seep out of the crust.