FRIED MOZZARELLA STICK RECIPES

Steps:

• Cut the mozzarella into approximately 2-1/2-by-1/2-inch sticks (you should have about 16 sticks, depending on the shape of your mozzarella).
• Put the flour in a small bowl. Beat the milk with the eggs in another bowl. Stir together the breadcrumbs and Parmesan in a third wide, shallow bowl.
• Working one at a time, coat a mozzarella stick in flour and shake off the excess. Dip the stick in egg, letting the excess drip off, then add it to the breadcrumbs and roll it to coat. Dip the stick in the egg one more time, again letting the excess drip off, and roll it in a final coat of breadcrumbs. You can pat the mozzarella stick gently between your hands to smooth out the coating. Transfer the coated mozzarella stick to a platter. Repeat with the remaining mozzarella sticks. Refrigerate the mozzarella sticks until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F. Have a large brown paper bag ready for the fried sticks (they will stick to paper towels). Add half of the mozzarella sticks and fry, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 1 minute total. Transfer to the paper bag to drain. Return the oil to 350 degrees F (this is important, as the cheese will seep out if it is not hot enough) and fry the remaining mozzarella sticks.
• Serve hot with Homemade Pizza Sauce on the side.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the oregano, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, with the saucepan loosely covered in foil to avoid splattering and stirring occasionally, until fairly thick, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your tomatoes. Remove the basil.

Steps:

• Freeze mozzarella sticks until frozen solid, at least 2 hours. When ready to bread, preheat oven to 400° and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Set up a breading station: Place panko, eggs, and flour in 3 separate shallow bowls. Season panko generously with salt and pepper. Coat frozen mozzarella sticks in flour, then dip in egg, then panko, back in the egg, then back in the panko. Arrange on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, watching carefully so the cheese doesn’t ooze.  Serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping. Freeze mozzarella sticks until frozen solid, at least 2 hours. After 3 hours, set up a breading station: Place panko, eggs, and flour in 3 separate shallow bowls. Season panko generously with salt and pepper. Coat frozen mozzarella sticks in flour, then dip in egg, then panko, back in the egg, then back in the panko.  Arrange frozen breaded mozzarella sticks in an even layer in the basket of your air fryer. Cook on 400° for 6 minutes, or until golden and crisp on the outside and melty in the center.  Serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping.