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Oven-Fried Mozzarella Bites

Source of Recipe

From "Half Baked Harvest Every Day" by Tieghan Gerard


Recipe Introduction

"Mozzarella sticks are the perfect appetizer in almost any situation. Crispy breading on the outside and melty cheese on the inside is delicious no matter what. But I find that with fried foods, all you can taste is the oil they were cooked in. And let's be real 'pull out your hair' process! Not only is this baked version less oily, but it's also easier and, most important, these sticks taste better than whatever you're ordering out. I couldn't decide between Buffalo (my family's favorite) and pizza (my personal favorite), so I'm sharing both!"

List of Ingredients

◦ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
◦ 1 large egg, beaten
◦ 1 cup panko bread crumbs
◦ 2 teaspoons dried parsley
◦ 2 teaspoons dried chives
◦ 1 teaspoon dried dill
◦ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
◦ 1 teaspoon onion powder
◦ 12 mozzarella string sticks, halved horizontally
◦ Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing or misting

Buffalo sauce:
◦ 4 tablespoons (� stick) salted butter, melted
◦ � cup hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot)
◦ � teaspoon seasoned salt
◦ Pinch of freshly ground black pepper


Recipe

Make the mozzarella bites: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Place the egg in a separate shallow bowl. Place the bread crumbs, parsley, chives, dill, garlic powder, and onion powder in a third shallow bowl and stir to combine. Working with a few pieces at a time, roll the mozzarella sticks in the flour to coat, then dip them into the egg to coat, allowing any excess to drip off. Then dredge them in the bread crumb mixture, pressing to adhere. Arrange the coated mozzarella bites on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 425� F with a rack positioned in the upper third of the oven.

Make the Buffalo sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.

Brush or mist the frozen mozzarella bites all over with olive oil. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes. Flip the bites and bake until the coating is crisp and lightly browned and the cheese is just beginning to ooze, 3 to 5 minutes more. Arrange the mozzarella bites on a serving platter and drizzle the Buffalo sauce over the top. Serve warm, with more sauce alongside for dipping.

Makes 24 bites






❧ Spicy Pizza Mozzarella Bites:
To make spicy pizza mozzarella bites, just change up the seasoning mix. In step 2, combine the panko bread crumbs with 2 teaspoons dried basil, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds, and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. Follow the directions for baking in step 5, but skip the Buffalo sauce and serve with store-bought marinara instead!