One of my favorite things about Mortadella Head is our deep fried mozzarella cheese sticks.
Our “Big Fat Homemade Mozzarella Sticks,” for short.
We’ve been making these since Mortadella Head opened, and they look exactly the same as their name states.
We don’t use frozen mozzarella sticks that are the size of your pinky, we’re making these in house each and every day.
It’s a crowd favorite among our customers and new customers, because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a gigantic fried cheese stick?
But perhaps my favorite thing about them is how easy they are to make.
Even if you’re not local to Somerville MA, the recipe is so easy that even beginner cooks can make it for themselves.
And today, we’re going to teach you how to do just that.
Here’s how you do it!
What You’ll Need For This Easy Recipe:
Low Moisture Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese: We like getting a huge block of mozzarella cheese and cutting it into six inch strips. Try not to use individually packaged string cheese sticks, as they’re coated in cellulose and not great for frying.
Flour: The first step to the breading process is to submerge your cheese sticks in a bunch of flour.
Egg Wash: An egg mixture will be your second step to the mozzarella sticks breading process.
Breadcrumbs: I like to use panko bread crumbs to get a delicious final coating on my fried mozzarella sticks, but Italian bread crumbs or plain bread crumbs are just as delicious.
Frying Oil: In order to get these as crispy as possible, you’ll want to use a neutral frying oil. Avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil are all great options. I’d avoid olive oil, as it’s not the best for deep frying. Make sure there’s enough oil to coat the entire mozzarella stick.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper, grated Romano cheese (or parmesan cheese), and parsley are all you’re going to be seasoning your mozzarella with.
Marinara Sauce: This is optional, but it’s the best thing to dip your mozzarella sticks in at the end.
How You Make Them:
Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. In one shallow bowl add the flour, in another the eggs, and then in your last bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Season everything with salt, black pepper, Romano cheese, and parsley, and beat the eggs.
Take each mozzarella slice and dip them in the flour mixture, followed by the eggs, and then the bread crumb mixture. Repeat this process to get a double breading. Do this until all of the cheese sticks are coated twice over.
Heat up your oil in a deep frying pan. Once the oil temperature reaches 350 degrees f, gently place the mozzarella sticks inside of the pan in a single layer and let them fry in the oil until golden brown all over.
Remove from the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Let rest for 2-3 minutes.
Serve with warm marinara sauce or any other tomato sauce for dipping, and enjoy!
FAQs:
Q: Do I have to use flour with this mozzarella stick recipe?
A: You don’t have to, but I find with these mozzarella sticks especially, it helps everything stick together.
Q: Should I freeze these mozzarella sticks before deep frying?
A: If you wanted to and had the time, it most certainly wouldn’t hurt! Freezing these mozzarella sticks will allow all of the ingredients to stick together nicely, and will prevent the gooey cheese from spilling out into the oil during the frying process. However, we’ve fried these right after breading without freezing anything at all, and it’s worked just fine.
Q: Can I deep fry fresh mozzarella?
A: You absolutely can. If this is the route you’re going, I highly recommend cutting it into slices based on the shape it comes in, and frying the cheese that way. Though you won’t get the classic “sticks” shape that deep fried mozzarella is known for, they will still taste just as good.
How To Serve These:
As an Appetizer: Deep fried mozzarella sticks make the most perfect appetizer. You can serve these on their own pre main course, and all of your guests will love them.
As an Added Bonus: I love adding deep fried cheese sticks to my sandwiches for an added kick. Especially if I’m cooking for a crowd, I find this to be a fun way to “wow” my guests.
As a Side Dish: Sometimes, all you need is just one or two fried mozzarella cheese sticks for the perfect side of indulgence with your meals.
Print
Homemade Deep Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb low moisture whole milk mozzarella cheese, cut into 3–4 inch sticks
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
- Frying oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil)
- Salt, pepper, and dried parsley to taste
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese
- Marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Set up three shallow bowls or dishes.
- In the first bowl, place the flour. In the second bowl, beat the eggs to make the egg wash. In the third bowl, place the breadcrumbs.
- Season everything with grated Romano, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley to taste.
- Take each mozzarella stick and coat it first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten egg, ensuring it’s fully coated. Finally, roll it in the seasoned breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere the breadcrumbs to the cheese stick. Repeat this process to get a double breading.
- Repeat step 4 until all mozzarella sticks are breaded.
- *Optional: Once all the mozzarella sticks are breaded, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them for about 30 minutes. This will help the breading adhere better and prevent the cheese from oozing out during frying.
- Heat the frying oil in a deep fryer or a heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F.
- Carefully lower the breaded mozzarella sticks into the hot oil in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the fryer.
- Fry them for about 2-3 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the fried mozzarella sticks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve the hot mozzarella sticks immediately, garnished with parsley and grated Romano cheese.
- Serve with marinara sauce.
