Description
Crispy homemade fried cheese bites deliver golden-brown perfection from Mediterranean kitchens. Melted cheese wrapped in seasoned breading creates quick party snacks readers can savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) block of cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or your favorite)
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (Panko or regular)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- ¼ tsp paprika (optional)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
Instructions
- Cube Preparation: Transform cheese block into uniform, bite-sized cubes ensuring consistent one-inch dimensions for even cooking.
- Breading Station Setup: Arrange three shallow vessels – first with flour, second with whisked eggs, third with seasoned breadcrumbs incorporating garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Initial Coating: Methodically coat cheese cubes in flour, creating an adherent base layer that facilitates subsequent coating stages, then thoroughly dip into beaten eggs for complete coverage.
- Crispy Exterior Application: Meticulously roll egg-coated morsels in seasoned breadcrumbs, pressing firmly to generate a comprehensive, golden-brown crust. Optional: Repeat egg and breadcrumb coating for enhanced crunchiness.
- Oil Preparation: Heat deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pan to 350-375 degrees fahrenheit, establishing optimal frying environment with precise temperature control.
- Frying Process: Gently submerge breaded cheese cubes in hot oil, maintaining strategic spacing to preserve temperature integrity and prevent soggy texture. Fry until golden-brown, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Finishing Touch: Extract cheese bites using slotted spoon, transferring to absorbent paper towels for excess oil drainage, preserving their delectable crispness and ensuring optimal texture.
Notes
- Check Cheese Consistency: Select firm, low-moisture cheese like mozzarella or cheddar that maintains structural integrity during frying and prevents excessive melting.
- Manage Oil Temperature: Maintain consistent 350-375°F oil temperature to ensure crispy exterior without burning breading or inadequately melting cheese interior.
- Prevent Cheese Leakage: Freeze cheese cubes for 15 minutes before breading to minimize potential melting and cheese escape during frying process.
- Enhance Coating Technique: Double-coat cheese bites for extra crunchiness, pressing breadcrumbs firmly to create a thick, secure protective layer that seals cheese effectively.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg