Description
Blackstone Fried Mozzarella is a crispy and gooey appetizer featuring fresh mozzarella slices breaded with flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs, then fried to golden perfection on a Blackstone griddle. Served with a rich and flavorful homemade marinara sauce infused with garlic and spices, this dish is a perfect indulgent snack or starter for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Fried Mozzarella:
- 8 slices fresh mozzarella
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup olive oil (for frying)
For the Marinara Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare Flour Mixture: Mix together the flour and garlic powder in one shallow dish. This will lightly season the coating for the mozzarella and help the egg wash stick.
- Make Egg Wash: In a separate dish, whisk together the beaten egg and milk until well combined. This acts as a binder for the breadcrumbs.
- Set Up Breadcrumbs: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a third dish. These will create a crispy, crunchy exterior on the cheese.
- Bread the Mozzarella: Dip each slice of fresh mozzarella first into the flour mixture, coating it evenly, then into the egg wash, and finally press it into the panko breadcrumbs until fully covered. Place each breaded slice on a piece of parchment paper set on a baking sheet.
- Freeze the Cheese: Place the baking sheet with breaded mozzarella slices into the freezer. This step firms up the coating, preventing the cheese from melting too quickly during frying.
- Prepare Marinara Sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Tomato Puree: Pour in the tomato puree and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Season and Simmer: Stir in salt, onion powder, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low and let the marinara sauce simmer while you cook the mozzarella.
- Preheat Blackstone Griddle: Heat your Blackstone griddle to medium temperature for even frying.
- Oil the Griddle: Generously apply olive oil over the griddle surface, ensuring enough to prevent sticking but not so much it drips off.
- Cook Fried Mozzarella: Remove the mozzarella from the freezer and place slices onto the hot, oiled griddle. Cook until golden brown on one side, then carefully flip, adding more oil if needed. Cook until both sides are crisp and browned.
- Serve: Remove the fried mozzarella immediately and serve hot with the warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Freezing the breaded mozzarella before frying is essential to keep the cheese from melting too quickly and losing shape.
- Use fresh, high-quality mozzarella for the best texture and flavor.
- You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes in the marinara for more or less heat according to your preference.
- Make sure the oil on the griddle is hot before adding mozzarella slices to get a crispy crust.
- Serve immediately for the best gooey texture and crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying on Blackstone Griddle
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice with marinara
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: fried mozzarella, Blackstone griddle recipe, mozzarella appetizer, crispy mozzarella, fried cheese sticks, homemade marinara sauce, Italian appetizer
