Panko Crusted Mozzarella Sticks Food

FRIED MOZZARELLA STICKS WITH CREAMY MARINARA

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a large Dutch oven or pot to come about 1 1/2 inches up the sides and fit the pot with a deep-fry thermometer. Bring the oil to 375 degrees F over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, mix the marinara, creme fraiche and red pepper flakes in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute until warm. Cover and set aside until ready to use.
• Place a wire rack inside of a baking sheet. Set up a standard breading station with 3 wide, deep plates (or pie plates). Place the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in one plate. Mix the panko, plain breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of black pepper into the second plate. Whisk the eggs into the third plate.
• Take each mozzarella stick through the breading procedure: first in the flour, then the egg and then the panko mixture, then repeat in the egg and panko mixture again for a double breading. Transfer to the wire rack.
• Working in batches, carefully drop 4 to 5 sticks into the oil and fry without touching until they are a deep golden brown and you can see some cheese starting to melt, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Serve immediately with the sauce on the side.

PANKO MOZZARELLA STICKS

Steps:

• Prepare Seasonings: Place flour in a small dish. In another bowl, mix together the eggs and milk. In a third bowl, combine panko bread crumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and oregano.
• Coat and Freeze: Cut mozzarella sticks into halves. Roll a piece of mozzarella in flour, dip into egg mixture, and roll well in Panko mixture. Press crumbs in place so mozzarella stick is fully coated. Continue until all pieces are well coated. Place coated mozzarella sticks on a wax-lined baking sheet and put in freezer for at least 30 minutes. (The flash-freezing is important in keeping cheese from falling apart in hot oil.)
• Fry: Pour oil to fill a third way up to halfway up in a heavy sauce pan. Using a thermometer, keep oil steady at 365F. Remove frozen mozzarella sticks and fry a few pieces (don't crowd) at a time, keeping oil temp at 365F throughout frying process (you'll have to play with turning heat up or down as needed.) Fry about 25-30 seconds, turning sticks until they are an even golden brown, and drain on paper towels. Try not to let cheese leak, but a few tiny bubbles are fine. Continue until entire batch is made. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce and do eat these while hot!

PARMESAN PANKO FISH STICKS

Steps:

• Season the cod with salt 1 hour before breading.
• Combine the mayonnaise, 1/4 cup parsley, dill, pickles and capers in a medium bowl. Stir in the juice from 1/2 lemon, check seasoning and add salt and pepper if necessary. Set the sauce aside.
• Combine the flour and a pinch of salt in a shallow or medium bowl. Beat the eggs in a separate shallow bowl. Combine the panko, cheese, remaining 1/4 cup parsley and the zest from 1 lemon in another shallow bowl. This is your breading station.
• Dredge the cod strips in flour, followed by the egg and finishing with the breadcrumb mixture.
• Heat the oil in a medium (10-inch) straight-sided pan or skillet until hot, 350 to 360 degrees F. Add the fish sticks and shallow-fry, turning so they brown evenly, 4 to 6 minutes total.
• Drain the fish sticks on a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack and season with salt. Serve with the sauce and lemon wedges.

PANKO MOZZARELLA STICKS

Steps:

• Slice string cheese pieces in half, for a total of 32 pieces.
• Place flour in a small bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and milk.
• In another separate bowl, combine panko bread crumbs with parsley flakes.
• One by one, roll mozzarella sticks in flour, then dunk in egg/milk mixture, then place in panko crumbs. Use your hand to sweep crumbs all over the mozzarella stick. Gently remove and place on a tray or cookie sheet. Repeat until all mozzarella sticks are coated.
• ***Place tray in freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to flash freeze.***
• Heat 1 1/2 inches canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add mozzarella sticks 8 at a time. Watch closely and turn over to evenly brown, cooking less than 2 minutes. Do not allow cheese to bubble and leak.
• Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce or ranch.