Jalapeno Mozzarella Sticks Recipes

AIR-FRYER MOZZARELLA STICKS

Steps:

• Place flour in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, beat eggs and water. In a third shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and pepper. Coat cheese sticks with flour, then dip in egg mixture and coat with bread crumb mixture. Repeat egg and bread crumb coatings. Cover and freeze for at least 2 hours or overnight. , Preheat air fryer to 400°. Place cheese in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and heated through, 6-8 minutes, turning halfway through cooking and spritzing with additional cooking spray. Allow to stand 3-5 minutes before serving. Serve with marinara or pasta sauce for dipping.

MOZZARELLA STICKS

Steps:

• Stir the bread crumbs, 1 cup of Parmesan and 1 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl to blend. Dip the cheese in the eggs to coat completely and allow the excess egg to drip back into the bowl. Coat the cheese in the bread crumb mixture, patting to adhere and coat completely. Place the cheese sticks on a baking sheet. Repeat dipping the cheese sticks in the egg and bread crumb mixture to coat a second time. Cover and freeze until frozen, about 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the cheese until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer the fried cheese to plates. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and serve with the Marinara Sauce.
• In a large casserole pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

SPICY SALAMI MOZZARELLA STICKS WITH VODKA SAUCE

Steps:

• Form the sticks: Place two slices of salami on a cutting board so that they are overlapping and slightly longer than the mozzarella stick. Wrap up the mozzarella stick so it is completely covered in the salami and transfer, seam side down, to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Repeat wrapping the remaining mozzarella sticks with the salami. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• While the mozzarella sticks are chilling, place the flour, egg mixture and breadcrumbs in separate wide shallow containers.
• Working with one at a time, roll the mozzarella sticks in the flour and shake off any excess. Roll the sticks in the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumbs. Double coat by rolling the sticks in the egg mixture and breadcrumbs a second time. Arrange on a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with all of the sticks and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Fry the sticks: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Pour the oil into a deep, heavy-bottomed pot and heat over medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees F. Meanwhile, set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Working in batches, carefully drop the sticks into the oil and gently "swirl" the oil so they fry more evenly on all sides. Fry until they are light to medium brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the mozzarella sticks with a slotted spoon or spider and lay them out in a single layer on the wire rack. Repeat until all are cooked. Keep warm in the oven if needed.
• Serve: Serve the mozzarella sticks with warm vodka sauce for dunking.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt. Stir in the vodka, sugar and red pepper flakes and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 to 8 minutes over high heat, stirring from time to time. Taste for seasoning. Stir in the cream. Puree in a blender until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.