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Mozzarella Sticks with Spicy Chilli Tomato Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 65 reviews

Crispy, golden mozzarella sticks coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and served with a spicy homemade chilli tomato dipping sauce. Perfectly fried to achieve a gooey cheese center and a crunchy exterior, these mozzarella sticks make an irresistible appetizer or snack.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Mozzarella Sticks

  • 30g plain flour
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 100g dried breadcrumbs
  • pinch of dried oregano
  • pinch of garlic granules
  • 250g block firm mozzarella (not in water), cut into 1cm-thick finger-length strips
  • about 500ml vegetable oil, for frying

For the Chilli Tomato Sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1–2 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare coating mixture. Put the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs into three separate bowls. Season each bowl. Stir the dried oregano and garlic granules into the breadcrumbs to infuse flavor into the coating.
  2. Coat the mozzarella sticks. Dredge each mozzarella stick in the flour, shaking off excess. Dip into the beaten egg, removing excess as well, then coat thoroughly in the seasoned breadcrumbs. Arrange the coated sticks on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment in a single layer.
  3. Freeze the coated sticks. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the mozzarella sticks for 1 hour until completely solid to prevent the cheese from melting too quickly when frying.
  4. Make the chilli tomato dipping sauce. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Fry the chopped chillies and sliced garlic for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the chopped tomatoes, red wine vinegar, sugar, and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes until the sauce thickens. For a smoother texture, blend the sauce using a stick blender. Adjust seasoning by adding more sugar, vinegar, or salt as preferred. Allow the sauce to cool.
  5. Heat oil for frying. Fill a heavy-based saucepan up to one-third full with vegetable oil and heat it to 180°C (use a cube of bread to test; it should sizzle and brown in about 30 seconds).
  6. Fry the mozzarella sticks. Working in two batches to maintain oil temperature, gently lower the frozen mozzarella sticks into the hot oil. Fry each batch for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts inside and the outside is crisp and golden brown. Remove and drain on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.
  7. Serve or store. Serve the mozzarella sticks immediately with the warm chilli tomato dipping sauce. Alternatively, allow them to cool and store covered in the fridge for up to three days or freeze for up to three months.
  8. Reheat instructions. To reheat, preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7. Place mozzarella sticks on a baking tray and bake for 8-10 minutes until heated through and crisp.

Notes

  • Ensure mozzarella sticks are well-frozen before frying to prevent cheese leakage.
  • Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature for perfectly fried sticks.
  • The dipping sauce can be made ahead and stored refrigerated or frozen for convenience.
  • For a less spicy sauce, reduce the number of chillies or remove seeds completely.
  • Reheat mozzarella sticks in the oven rather than a microwave to keep them crispy.
  • Vegetable oil is recommended for frying due to its high smoke point.

Keywords: mozzarella sticks, fried cheese sticks, chilli tomato sauce, appetizer, snack, Italian appetizer

Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/mozzarella-sticks-with-spicy-chilli-tomato-sauce-recipe/