Crispy Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe

Ingredients

Cheese Sticks

• 16 oz string cheese sticks (mozzarella and cheddar)

Breading Mixture

• 2 cups Panko bread crumbs (plain or regular Italian bread crumbs)
• 1 teaspoon Italian Herbs seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Wet Mixture

• 1 large egg
• 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (included in wet mix for seasoning)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (included in wet mix for seasoning)

For Frying

• Oil for frying (about 2 inches depth, suitable for deep frying)

Instructions

1. Fill a deep frying pan or skillet with about 2 inches of oil and heat it over high heat until it is sizzling hot and reaches around 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, salt, and pepper until well combined. Set aside this mixture.
3. In another shallow bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, Italian Herbs seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
4. Unwrap the cheese sticks. Dip each stick first into the buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Then toss it in the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat by dipping it again in the wet mixture and then in the breadcrumbs to get a double coating.
5. Carefully add the breaded cheese sticks into the hot oil without crowding the pan. Deep fry them for about 1 minute total, cooking 20-30 seconds on one side and then 20-30 seconds on the other side until the coating becomes golden brown and crispy.
6. Remove the fried cheese sticks with a slotted spoon and place them briefly on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve immediately with homemade marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

• Keep oil temperature steady at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent cheese leakage and achieve crispy crusts.
• Use a high-quality deep-frying or candy thermometer clipped onto the pan to monitor oil temperature accurately.
• Overcooking causes cheese to dry out; fry each stick for only about one minute total.
• Ensure cheese sticks are thoroughly breaded with no gaps to prevent melting out.
• If making extra, keep cooked sticks warm in a 200-degree Fahrenheit oven on a rack to maintain crispiness.
• Freeze cheese sticks for one hour before breading to make handling easier and reduce softness.
• Allow coatings (wet and dry) to drip off excess before the next dip to create an even crust.
• Do not overcrowd the pan during frying to avoid soggy coatings.
• Consider using a freezer bag for coating with panko breadcrumbs for easy tossing; avoid this method for the wet mixture to reduce mess.