Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce block mozzarella cheese (see Note)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. kosher salt, divided
- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tsp. hot sauce
- 1-⅓ cups seasoned breadcrumbs
- ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 4 tbsp. paprika, divided
- 2 cups vegetable oil or more, as needed, for frying
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 3 tbsp. cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- Marina Sauce or Ranch Dressing, for dipping
Instructions
- Cut mozzarella cheese into 8- inch plank shaped pieces; about ½-inch thick.
- In a shallow dish, whisk all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ tsp. pepper.
- In a second shallow dish, add beaten egg and whisk in hot sauce.
- In a third shallow dish, stir together breadcrumbs and 1 tsp paprika.
- Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet.
- Coat each piece of cheese in the flour and shake off excess; coat evenly with egg mixture and then place in the breadcrumbs; coat evenly with breadcrumbs.
- Return cheese to the egg and then back into breadcrumbs, lightly pressing to adhere breadcrumbs.
- Place breaded cheese on the prepared wire rack.
- Repeat breading process with remaining cheese pieces and pPlace in freezer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, pour oil into a deep saucepan to a depth of 3 inches; heat oil to 365°F to 375°F.
- In a heatproof bowl, combine remaining salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and brown sugar; stir until well blended.
- Working a few at a time, carefully lower cheese pieces into hot oil; fry about 1 minute, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp; drain on a wire rack.
- Carefully pour 1-¼ cups of hot oil into the bowl with cayenne mixture and stir until well combined.
- Coat each cheese stick lightly in seasoned oil and return to wire rack to allow excess to drip off.
- Serve with Marinara Sauce or Ranch Dressing, for dipping.
Notes
Mozarella string cheese sticks can be substituted for the block of mozarella; actually, I use the string cheese sticks as there is less work with cutting the block of morazella and the string cheese ensures even sticks every time.