Andy Montoya
Mozzarella cheese balls are a versatile dish that can be served as a snack, appetizer, or part of a more substantial meal. They can be prepared in a variety of ways, including frying, baking, or marinating, and can be served with a range of dips and sauces or incorporated into salads and sandwiches. This paragraph will provide an overview of the different methods for cooking mozzarella cheese balls and offer suggestions for how to serve them.
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What You'll Learn
Frying mozzarella balls
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients:
- Fresh mozzarella balls ( bocconcini or baby mozzarella balls are ideal, but you can also use low-moisture mozzarella cut into sticks or string cheese cut into pieces)
- Flour (all-purpose or regular)
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs (preferably Italian-style)
- Oil for frying (a neutral-flavoured oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or vegetable oil, is recommended)
- Seasonings of your choice (e.g. garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs, parsley, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper)
Preparation
Before you begin frying, there are a few preparation steps to follow:
- Pat the mozzarella balls dry with paper towels.
- Place the mozzarella balls in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to firm them up. This helps prevent them from melting too quickly during frying.
- Prepare three separate bowls for dredging: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with seasoned breadcrumbs.
- If desired, you can double the flour and egg steps to ensure a thicker coating on the mozzarella balls.
Frying
Now it's time for the frying process:
- Preheat your oil in a deep fryer or a large pot to 340-375 degrees F.
- Coat each mozzarella ball thoroughly in flour, then saturate it in the egg mixture.
- Roll the coated ball in the breadcrumbs, ensuring that no cheese is visible. If there are spots of cheese showing, dip those portions back into the egg and breadcrumbs again.
- Carefully place the breaded mozzarella balls into the hot oil in batches, frying for approximately 1 minute per batch or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the fried mozzarella balls from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
- Season with salt, if desired.
Serving
Fried mozzarella balls can be served as an appetizer or snack, and they go well with various dipping sauces:
- Roasted tomato-basil sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Marinara cream sauce (a mixture of red sauce, heavy cream, and red pepper flakes)
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Baking mozzarella balls
Baked mozzarella balls are a great appetizer for any occasion. They can be prepared in advance and kept in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready to eat them, simply bake them in the oven for a delicious, quick snack.
Ingredients
- Fresh mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese
- Parsley salt
- Bread
- Egg
- Milk
- Bread crumbs
Method
- Cut up the fresh mozzarella and add it to a blender or food processor, along with the parmesan cheese, parsley salt, bread, and egg.
- Mix the ingredients until they are well combined. The mixture will be slightly sticky.
- Dampen your hands with water and form the mixture into balls, roughly the size of a golf ball.
- Roll each ball in milk, then in breadcrumbs.
- Place the balls on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet or plate and cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes, or even overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Remove the tray from the fridge and bake the mozzarella balls for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn the balls over after about 5-6 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Variations
You can also add other ingredients to the mixture, such as jalapeños, to give your mozzarella balls a spicy kick. Alternatively, you can marinate the mozzarella balls in olive oil, herbs, garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes for a flavorful, festive appetizer.
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Freezing mozzarella balls
Yes, you can freeze mozzarella balls, but it is not a common practice. Freezing mozzarella balls is a good option if you have bought more than you need or to take advantage of a good deal at the supermarket. It is best to freeze mozzarella balls before baking or frying them.
To freeze mozzarella balls, first drain them from their brine. Then, place the balls on a cookie sheet, making sure they are separated and not touching. Leave them in the freezer for a couple of hours. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. You can also wrap the balls in cling film before placing them in the freezer bag. It is important to label the bag with the date. Frozen mozzarella balls can be stored for up to three months.
Mozzarella balls can be baked or fried directly from frozen. They may take a bit longer to cook. It is also possible to grate a frozen mozzarella ball over a dish before baking it, but this will change the texture of the mozzarella.
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Marinated mozzarella balls
To make marinated mozzarella balls, you will need the following ingredients:
- Mini fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine mozzarella)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh herbs (basil, parsley, oregano, or thyme)
- Lemon juice and zest
- Garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
First, drain the mozzarella balls and pat them dry with a paper towel. Then, in a medium jar, stir together the herbs, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and half the olive oil. Add the mozzarella balls to the jar and top with the remaining olive oil, ensuring that the balls are fully submerged. Cover the jar and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. The longer they marinate, the better the flavors will be.
These marinated mozzarella balls can be served as part of a Mediterranean spread with homemade focaccia or crusty bread and basil pesto. They can also be enjoyed with a glass of wine or an Aperol spritz. Any leftover olive oil marinade can be used as a bread dip or salad dressing.
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Mozzarella balls with roasted tomato sauce
Ingredients
- Fresh mozzarella
- Breadcrumbs
- Flour
- Egg
- Milk
- Parsley
- Lemon zest
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Italian herbs
- Oil, for frying
- Roasted tomato sauce
Method
- Cut up the fresh mozzarella and add it to a blender or food processor, along with some parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, bread, and egg. Mix until well combined.
- Dampen your hands with water and form the mixture into small balls, roughly the size of golf balls.
- Roll each ball in milk, then in breadcrumbs.
- Place the balls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes, or even overnight.
- Preheat a deep fryer or a large pot filled with oil to 335-345°F (170-175°C).
- Fry the mozzarella balls in batches until golden brown, turning often to ensure even cooking. This should take approximately 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Drain the fried mozzarella balls on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Serve with roasted tomato sauce on the side or as a dip.
Variations
You can also bake the mozzarella balls in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, turning them halfway through. Alternatively, try marinating the mozzarella balls in olive oil with herbs, garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes before serving as a flavorful appetizer.
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