Fried Mozzarella Cheese

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

1 pound Mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup Flour

3 lrg Eggs

1 cup Bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon Oregano

1/2 teaspoon Cumin, ground

1 pch Salt and pepper

8 ounces Marinara sauce, chilled

Vegetable oil

Preparation

Cut the mozzarella into sticks a bit more than about 1/4 inch thick and about 1 1/2 inches long. Coat the sticks with flour, shaking off excess.

Combine the bread crumbs and seasonings in a flat dish. Beat the eggs and place in a separate bowl.

Coat the sticks by dipping them in the egg and then in the bread crumbs.

The coating on the first stick should be fairly dry when you finish the last stick. Repeat with another dip in the egg and then in the bread crumbs.

Deep-fry the coated sticks in oil for about 3 to 4 minutes until the coating is cooked. Fry in batches, keeping the finished ones warm in the oven. Serve with chilled marinara sauce or salsa.

NOTES:* Fried mozzarella sticks with marinara - Use your imagination when choosing spices. The spices listed here are just a suggestion.

* Be careful when frying, as some sticks split open when they are done, leaving lots of cheese in your frying oil. You may need more egg or bread crumbs, depending on how many sticks you have and how thick you coat them.

Difficulty: moderate (frying skill required).

Time: 10 minutes preparation, 5 minutes cooking.

Precision: approximate measurement OK.