Panko Crusted Baked Italian Mozzarella Sticks

Now as I mentioned in my confession when I posted about the Baked Pepperoni Pizza Egg Roll Cheese Sticks I have an unholy obsession with cheese sticks.  No seriously I’ve eaten just these with some marinara sauce for dinner and only these.  LOL  I’m not proud but I’m not apologetic either.  LOL

After I posted the Pepperoni Pizza Egg Roll ones a few of you said you were having difficulty finding Egg Roll Wrappers.  For me I’ve seen them in a few places in my store(s) – Asian aisle, cold produce aisle and the pasta aisle. If all else fails, you can get them online or in your local specialty store.  But I felt bad and didn’t want people to go without (and okay this gave me yet another excuse to make some more) I wanted to share how to bake these to make them more healthier while keeping all that amazing taste we all love!

Just LOOK how glorious they are!  Just BEGGING to be given to me… er I meant eaten by you. Yeah, I really meant that <blink blink blink> LOL

Panko Crusted Baked Italian Mozzarella Sticks – can be Gluten Free!

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• Author: The Kitchen Whisperer

Ingredients

• 12 sticks low fat mozzarella string cheese
• 3 tablespoon egg whites, beaten (or 1 large egg)
• 2 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 cup Panko or Gluten Free Panko
• 1/4 cup Italian Seasoned bread crumbs (when making Gluten Free, just grind additional GF Panko into a finer crumb and add a 1/4 teaspoon Italian Seasoning to it)
• 2 teaspoon Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Olive Oil Spray
• Marinara Sauce for dipping, warmed

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Instructions

1. Unwrap the string cheese and lay on a parchment lined baking pan.
2. Place in the freezer for 1-2 hours, uncovered. The cheese must be frozen solid.
3. When the cheese is frozen, in a small bowl whisk the egg whites until frothy.
4. In a 2nd bowl, place the flour.
5. In a 3rd bowl mix together the Panko, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oregano.
6. Set up an assembly line working where it goes flour bowl, egg bowl, bread crumb bowl, baking pan.
7. Dip the frozen cheese sticks into the egg whites, then the flour to coat, then back in the egg whites.
8. Remove from the egg whites (2nd dip) and place in the crumbs to coat evenly. You want all sides and the ends covered.
9. Place on a pan covered with parchment.
10. Repeat steps 8-10 until all the sticks are done.
11. Place the coated cheese sticks in the freezer until frozen. If you don’t and try to bake, they will melt before browning.
12. Line a baking with aluminum foil and spray with olive oil.
13. After at least 30 minutes or you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400F with the rack in the lower third of the oven.
14. Place the coated frozen cheese sticks on the foil leaving a 1” space in between.
15. Spray each stick with olive oil.
16. Bake for 4-5 minutes or until the tops are starting to crisp.
17. Turn over gently, re-spray and bake an additional 4-5 minutes or just until crispy and barely starting to ooze.

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