Recipe

Pick-up sticks

Pick-up sticks

Photo 1 of 2
by Sagegreen

Pick-up sticks

Photo 2 of 2
by Sagegreen

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe Using Fresh Mozzarella
  • Chef

    Sagegreen's Notes: I just decided to experiment making mozzarella sticks, which has been a favorite food my son enjoys. So I wanted to make a healthier version at home. You can certainly vary the herbs, but...

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Serves 4-6

1 pound fresh mozzarella (not packed in liquid) Ask a question about this ingredient

1 egg Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup Greek yogurt Ask a question about this ingredient

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg Ask a question about this ingredient

2 cups panko bread crumbs Ask a question about this ingredient

6 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley, scallions, mint leaves Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper Ask a question about this ingredient

1 grated rind of half a lemon Ask a question about this ingredient

olive oil for skillet Ask a question about this ingredient

2 cups your favorite bruschetta (chopped tomatoes, parsley, onions, lemon juice, etc.l Ask a question about this ingredient

1 dolup of Greek yogurt per serving Ask a question about this ingredient

sprigs flat leaf parsley and a chiffonade of basil for garnish Ask a question about this ingredient

or alternatively you can add 1/2 mashed avocado to the egg and yogurt mixture. Ask a question about this ingredient

....and then serve this variation with equal parts Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, and chopped English cucumber seasoned with salt, pepper, nutmeg, lemon juice, and fresh chopped herbs. Ask a question about this ingredient

1-2 Avocadoes mashed, 1/2 cup to be added to the egg/yogurt mixture, the remainder can go towards the yogurt, cucumber dip...sorry if these suggestions are out of order. Ask a question about this ingredient

or rind and juice of a lime to substitute for the lemon Ask a question about this ingredient

  1. Slice mozzarella into rectangular stick shapes about one and a half inch long by half an inch wide or so.

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  2. Beat the egg and then mix with the yogurt, lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg in one bowl. Add 1/2 mashed avocado and use lime instead of lemon for a wonderful variation.

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  3. Mix the panko, 6 tbl. chopped mixed fresh herbs, lemon rind, (or lime rind if using the avocado route), 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, salt and ground pepper together in another bowl.

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  4. Dip the mozzarella sticks first into the egg/yogurt (do try this with the suggested avocado) mixture to coat.

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  5. Then roll the coated mozzarella sticks in the panko mixture.

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  6. Heat a shallow depth of olive oil in a skillet (this can be more than a spray but less than 1/16 inch deep, say a healthy coating).

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  7. Brown the breaded mozzarella sticks quickly and lightly on each side in the skillet and they are ready to serve.

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  8. Serve with your favorite bruschetta (fresh seasoned, diced tomatoes, parsley, red onions, and lemon juice is a simple favorite of mine), a dolup of Greek yogurt, a sprig of flat leaf parsley and a chiffonade of basil for garnish. Or serve with the yogurt/cucumber/lime/avocado mix instead. I tried this version the day after I first submitted this (so please see the second photo).

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3 Comments on Pick-up sticks

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

Looks delicious! Especially the avocado one with the avocado dip. You can click and drag the ingredients around on the list - which you've likely discovered now.

Ab_sum Reply

Thank you so much. Yes, I eventually figured that out. I tried a variation on this with cumin and green chiles, which I really prefer (you can see my last entry). But today I am busy with some cherry concoctions.

Ab_sum Reply

I tried the second version with a mozzarella that was packed in liquid, and then added avocado and lime to the mix. You need to coat these well with the yogurt/avocado mix so they will in turn retain more panko. You then have to work really quickly with the cooking to keep everything from oozing out with a base liquid-packed mozzarella, but I really do prefer the second version.

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