I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes for appetizers. Sometimes I just want a nibble for dinner rather than a meal. I believe it has something to do with the fact that I eat large amounts of thin mints throughout the evening thus ruining my appetite for a proper dinner. It’s just a theory I’ve come up with. But hey, no one is here to tell me not to spoil my dinner. So really it’s not even my fault. Right?
Because I love string cheese and panko breadcrumbs AND had both at home last night, I made fried mozzarella sticks. They were crunchy on the outside and ooey gooey on the inside. I was a happy chick. So was stuffed husband. Let me share this tasty, all together, delicious appetizer with you. It’s a piece of cake…well, cheese. You know what I’m saying.
Here’s what you’re going to need and you probably already have most of it in your fridge or pantry. This is fancy cookin ya’ll.
FRIED CHEESE STICK INGREDIENTS
- 4 sticks of string cheese
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1 large egg
- 2/3 cup of panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp of dried parsley
- 4/3 cup of vegetable oil
- marinara sauce for dipping, or licking off your fingers.
Start out by heating the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Next, cut each stick of cheese into two equal parts.
Then grab three bowls. Place flour, breadcrumbs mixed with parsley, and a lightly-whipped egg into individual bowls.
Place your string cheese in the flour, then the egg, and finish with bread crumbs. Here’s what they should look like.
Place your battered cheese sticks into the vegetable oil. Check to make sure your oil is hot enough by dipping one stick in the oil. If it bubbles immediately, you’re good to go. If not, wait until your oil is hot enough. Putting your cheesesticks into the grease too early can leave you with soggy food. Soggy food is bad. Just don’t do it. Wait. for. heat. Ya heard?
Let each side brown for about 2 minutes. While these bad boys fry up, ask your sweet husband to heat up a lil marinara in the microwave.
Ain’t he just precious. I love him. And his taste in women. I’m not biased or anything.
Once your mozzarella sticks have browned on both sides, set them on a paper towel to absorb some of the grease unless you’re just into that kind of thing. Grease, I mean. Then just go ahead and gobble them up right there. Be careful not to burn your mouth, it hurts. Not that I did anything like that. Me? Never.
Then just add a little marinara sauce and enjoy!
Mmmmm. cheesy, crunchy goodness.
Just make sure you don’t lose track of your little peeing pup in the hustle and bustle of battering cheese. She’ll make a white blanket yellow.
Who? Me???
Stay hungry because I’ve got plenty of new ideas brewing. Also, later this week I’ll be posting a recipe for PIG CAKE. You read that right. PIG. CAKE. It’s so delicious you won’t be able to keep from eating seconds. Just ask Stuffed Husband, he’s already had four slices in two days.
Peace, love, and panko-
The Very Last Bite 