Fried Mozzarella Balls with Marinara Cream Sauce Recipe

Fried Mozzarella Balls with Marinara Cream Sauce

• Difficulty: Easy
• Serves: 2 to 4
• Nutritional Information (per serving): Calories 458, Total Fat 20 g, Saturated Fat 11 g, Carbohydrates 47 g, Dietary Fiber 2 g, Sugar 2 g, Protein 21 g, Cholesterol 141 mg, Sodium 480 mg
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Chill Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes

Transform simple mini mozzarella balls into irresistible, golden bites that ooze with creamy cheeseperfect for sharing and satisfying those crunchy cravings!

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-ounce) container mini mozzarella cheese balls (bocconcini)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Marinara Cream Sauce:

• 1 cup red sauce
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• Pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Heat deep fryer to 375F (190C) for perfect crispiness.
2. Drain mozzarella balls well and pat dry with paper towels to prevent sogginess.
3. Prepare three shallow dishes: flour in the first, beaten eggs in the second, and panko mixed with parsley, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in the third.
4. Bread each ball: dust in flour, dip in egg, then roll in panko mixture. For ultimate crunch, double-dip in egg and panko. Freeze coated balls for 10 minutes to set the coating.
5. Fry in small batches for 1 minute until gorgeously golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with creamy marinara dip.
6. For the sauce, stir red sauce, heavy cream, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Microwave 2 minutes until warm and velvetydip away for flavor explosion! Yield: ~1 cup.