Macho Mozzarella Sticks & Pumped-Up Pepper Jack Sticks

DudeFood's picture

Feb. 21, 2014

First theres a crunch, then you get the ooey-gooey. And were not talking about stepping on a snail. Were talking about cheese sticks. Weve all had them. Theyre usually pretty good, except when you buy those frozen ones at the store. Theyre just not the same. So heck with it, make em at home! And Sean Adam have two easy / perfect recipes. Seans are spiced up with cayenne pepper and Adams are a little more mild for you tame types. Oh and were not deep frying them, were baking them. Theyre still just as good and kinda almost good for you!

Ingredients

String cheese 1 Packet ((about 12 sticks))
All purpose flour 1 Cup (16 tbs)
Panko bread crumbs 2 Cup (32 tbs) ((Japanese style))
Eggs 2 , beaten
Garlic powder 1 Tablespoon
Salt & pepper To Taste
For sean's scratch ranch
Mayonnaise 1 Cup (16 tbs)
Sour cream 1/2 Cup (8 tbs)
Garlic powder 1/2 Teaspoon
Onion powder 1/2 Teaspoon
Milk 1/2 Cup (8 tbs)
Worcestershire sauce 3 Dash
Dill weed 1/2 Teaspoon
Hot sauce 2 Dash
Lemon 1 , juiced
Salt and pepper To Taste

Directions

GETTING READY

1. Remove cheese sticks from packaging and place on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Make sure they’re not touching, or they’re freeze together like Siamese Twins.

2. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F

MAKING

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (do not substitute with foil, as the cheese sticks will stick. Instead, generously spray with non-stick spray if you don’t have parchment, Dude). Then, build your dredging station. Place the beaten eggs into a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl or plate goes the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Finally, put the flour into shallow bowl or plate.

4. Take your frozen cheese sticks out of the freezer and one at a time, dip into the flour and coat. Then into the egg wash, then into the breadcrumbs. Once coated, repeat the process. Then place on the baking sheet. Make sure you do each one twice, you’ll get a much crunchier crust, Bro.

5. Bake for about 10 minutes, carefully turning about half way through.

SERVING

6. Serve with hot marinara sauce, or you can make Sean’s Scratch Ranch (recipe below).

NOTES:

Spicy Option: If you’re like Sean, you like to spice things up. Substitute Pepper Jack cheese sticks for mozzarella and add a teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and paprika to your bread crumbs. Hellz yeah!

Dude Food Tip: Use one hand to put the cheese in the eggs and use the other into the flour and breadcrumbs. Your fingers won’t get nearly as gummy (Watch the video, Sean and Adam are expert dry / wet handers).

For Sean’s Scratch-Ranch

MAKING

1. Put a teaspoon of the lemon juice in the milk, cover and set aside. This will make it more like buttermilk, since odds are you don’t have buttermilk in your fridge and it’s kinda pricey just for a half cup. Just looking out, Dude.

2. Throw everything into a bowl, whisk until throughly combined, cover and put in the fridge for an hour or so to get good flavor.

SERVING

3. Serve alongside the cheese sticks.

Recipe Summary

Difficulty Level: Medium
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 10 Minutes
Servings: 4

Nutrition Facts

Serving size

Calories 760Calories from Fat 484

 % Daily Value*

Total Fat 54 g83.1%

Saturated Fat 8 g40%

Trans Fat 0 g

Cholesterol

Sodium 593 mg24.71%

Total Carbohydrates 55 g18.3%

Dietary Fiber 3 g12%

Sugars 5 g

Protein 13 g26%

Vitamin A % Vitamin C %

Calcium % Iron %

*Based on a 2000 Calorie diet