Description
Crispy fried mozzarella balls bring Italian street market magic right to kitchen counters. Gooey cheese centers surrounded by golden-brown crunchy coating create an irresistible appetizer that friends will devour in seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) bocconcini, drained and patted dry
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ cups plain breadcrumbs
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Serving and Cooking Ingredients:
- Oil for frying
- Marinara sauce for dipping
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- Finely chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Carefully remove mozzarella from packaging and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels to eliminate excess moisture, ensuring a crisp coating.
- Assemble a strategic breading setup with three separate shallow dishes: seasoned flour, whisked eggs, and seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Methodically roll each cheese sphere first through seasoned flour, creating a delicate initial coating that helps egg mixture adhere.
- Submerge floured mozzarella into beaten eggs, ensuring complete and even coverage for optimal breadcrumb attachment.
- Generously coat egg-dipped cheese balls in seasoned breadcrumbs, pressing gently to create a uniform, textured exterior.
- Repeat the entire breading process a second time for an extra thick, crunchy shell that will seal in melted cheese.
- Transfer breaded mozzarella spheres to a parchment-lined tray and freeze for 1-2 hours, which prevents cheese from leaking during frying.
- Heat neutral oil in a deep skillet or fryer to precisely 350°F, monitoring temperature with a cooking thermometer.
- Carefully lower chilled mozzarella balls into hot oil, avoiding overcrowding to maintain consistent oil temperature.
- Fry for 60-90 seconds, rotating occasionally, until exterior transforms into a rich golden-brown, crispy shell.
- Remove fried mozzarella using a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drain on wire rack or paper towels.
- Sprinkle with fine sea salt and fresh herbs, then serve immediately alongside zesty marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Freezing prevents cheese from melting too quickly during frying, ensuring a crispy exterior and gooey center.
- Double-coating creates an extra-thick, crunchy breading that locks in the mozzarella’s creamy texture.
- Draining and thoroughly drying cheese helps maintain structural integrity and prevents oil splattering during cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg