Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks are simple to make, and a wonderfully ooey gooey snack! Freezing them before frying is the secret for this recipe.

Making Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks at home is pretty simple. They are deep-fried till the outside is golden and crispy and the center is filled with melting cheese. They fried up in a matter of minutes and are delicious! Consider drizzling them with marinara sauce!

Ingredients Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

1 1/2 cups Italian-style dried breadcrumbs

1 1/3 cups freshly grated Parmesan

1 teaspoon salt

2 (16-ounce) blocks pasteurized mozzarella cut into 4 by 1/2-inch sticks

4 large eggs, beaten to blend

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

4 cups Marinara Sauce, recipe follows

Marinara Sauce:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 small onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

2 (32 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

2 dried bay leaves

Directions

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.

Marinara Sauce:

Yield: 2 quarts
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.)