Who doesn’t love a good cheese stick? I know my family does!
Nine times out of ten, when we’re at a restaurant and an appetizer is ordered, it is a big basket of fried, gooey mozzarella sticks. What can I say, they are so good! But those yummy sticks can be very unforgiving with your waistline… One popular restaurant chain serves mozzarella sticks that will cost you 940 calories and 48 grams of fat! I would have to walk for over four hours just to burn off my appetizer!
I came across this recipe for Baked Mozzarella Sticks from the Dr. Oz Show, and not only do they taste amazing, they are less than half the fat of the traditional recipe!!
The recipes starts off with part-skim mozzarella sticks you can purchase from any grocery store. I used Kraft Natural Cheese Part Skim Mozzarella Sticks. My kids love them, so we usually have a package in the refrigerator anyway!
The cheese sticks are placed in the freezer for one hour prior to baking. You want them to be really cold so they hold their shape and don’t turn into a pile of melted cheese in the oven!
Then the sticks go through a 3 step coating: flour, egg whites, and seasoned panko breadcrumbs. The breading sticks really well to the cold cheese, and the panko gives them a great crunch!
The mozzarella sticks then go under the broiler for just a couple minutes and come out crisp and golden on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside! Just the way a cheese stick should be!
Just be sure to really watch the time!
Serve with your favorite marinara sauce and dig in! They are so scrumptious, you’d never know they’re low fat! (ok low-ER fat!)
Baked Mozzarella Sticks
12 sticks part-skim mozzarella string cheese
3 tablespoons flour
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
Non-stick cooking spray
1 cup marinara sauce, warmed
Remove string cheese from individual packaging and freeze for one hour. Set oven rack to lower third and preheat broiler on high. Place flour in a zip top bag. Beat egg whites and water and place in a shallow bowl. Mix panko with the rest of the dry ingredients and place into another shallow bowl. Remove string cheese from freezer and coat with flour, then dip in egg whites, and finally coat with the panko crumb mixture. Carefully place them on an ungreased baking sheet and lightly spray with the non-stick spray. Broil for 2-3 minutes until browned. Use tongs to carefully flip each stick and broil another 1-2 minutes until browned on other side. Remove from oven and onto a plate to cool 2 minutes before serving with warm marinara.
Enjoy!
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P.S. I’m sharing this post at some awesome link parties… Check them out HERE!
These look delicious Liz! I can’t wait to make them for my kids!!
Thanks for a healthy alternative to one of my favorite snacks. I am sure my family will love these too.
Fried cheese is just so good!!! love that you shared a way to make it low-er fat! My kids love those cheese sticks too!!!
These look delish! I love these snacks and my toddler loves the cheese sticks, so I’m sure these will be a hit in our house!
These look so good! Plus, I love how easy they seem to make. Great idea.
There is something so incredibly addictive about mozzarella sticks. It never occured to me to make them from scratch.. Will definitely try this.
Maude
These look delicious. Definitely pinning. I hope you’ll share this and any other posts you’d like at my link party
Marissa @ Rae Gun Ramblings
okay, just commented on your wreath, but I love this too! Not sure if I can find those kind of bread crumbs here in Hong Kong, but I am going to try :o) New followers!
These look awesome! I’ll have to figure out the weight watchers points for this, as I have a feeling I’ll be making these soon. 😉
These look delicious. I have pinned this to try later. Love to find healthier versions of our favorite foods.
Thanks for sharing,
Suzanne
These look so good! I could go for some right now. 🙂
ahumblebumble.blogspot.com
These look delicious and your photos are gorgeous!! I love mozzarella sticks! I have a new Pinterest Power party and would love to have you share this and any other recipes you have!
http://www.thetaylor-house.com/2013/01/31/pinterest-power-party-4.html
Thanks!
Chrissy
YUM! Mozzarella sticks and one of my Hubby and I’s favorite apps, I’ll have to try these! We would love it if you would link up at our new linky party: Two Girls and a Party Hosted by:
Dana @ This Silly Girl’s Life
Parrish @ Life with the Crust Cut Off
We hope to see you there!
Beautiful photos!!! And they look delicious. I’ve pinned and printed so I can make them soon ~ in fact, maybe today. I found you at the Strut Your Stuff link party today. Thanks for sharing.
My son absolutely loves mozzarella sticks, but I don’t like for him to eat so much fried food. (Delicious as it may be.) I’m going to have to give this a try. Thank you!
Those look really good! We love mozzarella sticks!!
featured you tonight Liz at Monday Funday! 😉
This recipe sounds great. I would make 2 suggestions if I may. Pour the panko into a plastic bag and roll over them a few times to reduce them in size. Once crushed, I would toast them in a pan on top of the stove to give them some color. As you can see, panko doesn’t brown when cooked.
Great suggestions! Thanks Rae!