Crispy Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce & Creamy Dip

Ingredients:

For the Mozzarella Sticks:

1 lb Mozzarella cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 cup All-purpose flour

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Black pepper

2 Eggs, beaten

1/4 cup Milk

Oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil works well)

For the Marinara Sauce:

1 jar (15 oz) Marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)

For the Creamy Dip:

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

1/4 cup Sour cream

1 tablespoon Chopped parsley

1 tablespoon Lemon juice

1 clove Garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions:

Prepare the mozzarella sticks: Start by cutting the mozzarella cheese into 1-inch cubes. Set them aside.

Coat the cheese: In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs with milk. In a third shallow bowl, add the panko bread crumbs.

Dredge the mozzarella cubes: Dip each piece of mozzarella cheese first into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally coat it in the panko bread crumbs. Make sure the cheese is fully covered with each layer. For extra crispy mozzarella sticks, you can repeat the process once more to double-coat the cheese.

Freeze for extra crunch: Place the coated mozzarella sticks on a tray and freeze them for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during frying.

Fry the mozzarella sticks: Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove the sticks from the oil and drain on paper towels.

Make the creamy dip: In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, chopped parsley, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir until smooth and well combined.

Serve: Serve the crispy mozzarella sticks hot with marinara sauce for dipping and the creamy dip on the side. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information: