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fried mozzarella sandwiches pulled apart with marinara
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Mozzarella en Carozza Recipe

Slices of part-skim mozzarella are sandwiched between slices of buttered bread coated in panko breadcrumbs and pan-fried until a golden-brown crust develops and the cheese becomes melty.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Keyword cheese, easy appetizer, fried, marinara, mozzarella
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 598kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs
  • Kosher salt, as needed
  • Freshly ground
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 8 slices white bread
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 8 ounces deli-sliced part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • Vegetable oil, as needed, for frying
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup marinara sauce, warmed

Instructions

  • In a medium, shallow bowl, beat the eggs until well combined. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
  • In another medium shallow bowl stir together the panko breadcrumbs, Pecorino Romano, lemon zest and garlic powder.
  • Spread the butter on one side of each of the slices of bread. Top half of the slices of buttered bread with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese. Close the sandwich so the buttered sides hold the mozzarella in place. Press down gently to adhere the cheese to the bread then carefully trim the crusts off the bread.
  • Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat, add enough oil to reach ¼” up the sides of the pan (just enough to fully coat the bottom of the pan) and heat through.
  • Working one at a time, add the sandwich to the beaten egg mixture, coating it on both sides.
  • Add the sandwich to the panko mixture and gently press to coat the sandwich. Add the sandwich to the hot oil and fry, until golden brown and crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Use a spatula to flip the sandwich cooking until golden brown, about an additional minute. Turn the heat down to medium-low if the outside browns too quickly. The inside should be melty.
  • Remove to a cooling rack set over paper towels and repeat with the remaining sandwiches until all are cooked.
  • To serve, cut in half diagonally and top with parsley with marinara for dipping.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 598kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 230mg | Sodium: 1140mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1171IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 657mg | Iron: 5mg