Oven fried Mozzarella Sticks

Since we’re coming up on Super Bowl Sunday, I thought I’d try to make some “healthy” mozzarella sticks.  If you want the brown color that you get from fried mozzarella sticks, I’d either toast the panko breadcrumbs (no oil) or put 1/4 cup of panko and 1/4 cup of regular breadcrumbs.  You might want to try pretzels (but since I’m not a salt fan, I’d use the salt-free ones)…that might work.

This makes about 9 mozzarella sticks.

• 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs
• 1 1/2 tsp of Italian seasoning
• 1/8 tsp of Kosher salt 
• 1 egg

Cut the mozzarella into sticks.  I bought a big block of mozzarella and cut them into 1 1/2 inch long logs.  Then I put the logs in the freezer for an hour.

Now preheat the oven to 450.  In a bowl, mix the egg well. 

In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and salt.

Take the frozen mozzarella and dip into the egg mixture.  Now dip in the breadcrumb mixture, but make sure you press down hard so it sticks.  Put the cheese stick back in the egg mix and again in the bread crumbs. 

Put on an aluminum foil lined pan.  Bake for 8-12 minutes, but make sure to watch at the 8 minute mark so the cheese doesn’t ooze too much!  They aren’t quite as crispy as the fried versions, but they were pretty good.  I dipped mine in pizza sauce.