Fried Mozzarella With Puttanesca Dipping Sauce Recipes

FRIED MOZZARELLA WITH PUTTANESCA DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat the mozzarella dry, making sure there is no water on the surface, and set aside.
• Place the flour in a shallow dish.
• Mix together the milk and eggs and place in a shallow bowl.
• Stir together the bread crumbs, Essence, and salt and place in a shallow dish.
• Heat vegetable oil about 1 1/2 inches deep, in a heavy saucepan or deep-fryer over medium-high heat to 325 to 330 degrees F.
• Dredge the mozzarella in the flour, shaking off any excess flour.
• Dip in the egg mixture and then the bread crumbs.
• Place mozzarella in hot oil and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Allow the mozzarella to stand for 3 to 5 minutes before serving, to allow the cheese to melt the entire way through.
• Serve warm on skewers or fondue forks with Puttanesca Dipping Sauce.
• To make the dipping sauce:.
• In a medium pot heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion and saute until soft and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and the remaining ingredients and simmer until the sauce is thickened and slightly reduced, about 20 minutes.
• Add salt to taste, cover and set aside.
• Serve sauce warm or at room temperature.
• Enjoy!
• Yield: about 3 cups To make the Essence:.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Yield: 2/3 cup.

MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA (FRIED MOZZARELLA SANDWICHES)

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs, then beat in the garlic, season with salt and pepper and beat again to combine. In another shallow bowl, add the breadcrumbs, season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
• Top 4 slices of white bread with a single mozzarella slice apiece, and trim the cheese as needed to avoid overhang. Top with the remaining 4 slices of white bread and press down gently.
• Dip both sides and all the edges of a sandwich in the egg to coat fully, followed by the bread crumbs. Place on a large plate and transfer to the refrigerator to firm up while you continue to work, then repeat with the other sandwiches.
• In a large skillet, heat 1/4-inch olive oil over medium heat. See if the oil is ready by dropping a few bread crumbs in; they should bubble gently. Working in batches as needed, fry each sandwich, turning once with a slotted spatula or a fork, until the outsides and edges are golden brown and the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Season with salt, halve diagonally, and serve.

FRIED MOZZARELLA CHEESE APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Cut cheese into twenty-four 1/4-in. slices. Place the eggs, flour and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip cheese slices in eggs, then coat with flour. Dip cheese again in eggs and coat with crumbs. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; refrigerate for at least 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, saute garlic in 1 tablespoon oil for 1 minute; add the tomatoes, oregano, sugar, basil and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until slightly thickened., In a large skillet, cook cheese slices in remaining oil over medium heat for 30-60 seconds on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with sauce.

WOK-FRIED MOZZARELLA STICKS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Pass tomatoes through the grater disc of a food processor. Stir in salt, olive oil, black pepper and basil. Set aside.
• Cut cheese curd into very small pieces and place in shallow, wide heatproof dish a couple inches deep, like a roasting pan.
• In large pot over high heat, bring 2 quarts water to 185 to 190 degrees. Stir in kosher salt, then pour over curds. Let curds sit, undisturbed, for a full minute.
• Press curds into corner of the pan with spoon or spatula and gently pack together. In three to four minutes, they will form a mass. The moment that happens, pour water from pan and knead cheese like bread dough until smooth and lump-free. (At this point, if not continuing with recipe, the cheese can be twisted into balls, plunged into cold water or milk to set the shape, and eaten as fresh mozzarella.)
• Press cheese into a loaf pan and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, to set it. Meanwhile, set up station to bread the mozzarella: a shallow dish of flour, a shallow dish of beaten eggs and a shallow dish of bread crumbs.
• Move mozzarella to cutting board and trim into batons about 3 inches long and an inch thick. Roll in flour and then egg, flour and then egg again, and heap on the bread crumbs.
• Heat oil in a wok on stove over high heat. At 375 degrees, use a slotted spoon to lower mozzarella sticks into oil one at a time. Fry for a minute or less - just until golden brown. Drain on rack; blot dry. Serve mozzarella sticks with sauce on the side.