Crispy Mozzarella Bites
Equipment
- Plate
- Serving dish
- Shallow dish
- Small bowls 2
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon full-cream milk
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 280 g mozzarella cheese block cut into sticks
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Place the flour in a small bowl.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a second small bowl.
- Combine the breadcrumbs, salt, and Italian seasoning in a shallow dish.
- Roll each mozzarella stick in the flour and shake off the excess.
- Dip the floured mozzarella into the egg mixture.
- Coat thoroughly with the seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Place the coated mozzarella on a plate and repeat with the remaining pieces.
- Freeze the coated mozzarella for 10 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes.
- Place half of the mozzarella bites in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 2 minutes.
- Shake the basket gently.
- Lightly brush the mozzarella bites with olive oil.
- Air fry for another 2 minutes.
- Shake the basket again.
- Air fry for a final 1 minute until crisp and golden.
- Transfer to a serving dish.
- Repeat with the remaining mozzarella bites.
- Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted.
Notes & Wine Advice
Recipe Notes
Do not skip the freezing time. Chilling the coated mozzarella for 10 minutes helps prevent the cheese from melting through the breadcrumb coating before the outside becomes crisp. Shake off excess flour and egg between each coating step. This creates a more even breadcrumb layer around the mozzarella. Cook the mozzarella bites in batches rather than overcrowding the air fryer basket. Leaving space around each piece allows the hot air to circulate and helps the coating become evenly crisp. Serve immediately while the outside is crisp and the mozzarella inside is still warm and melted. Warm Napolitana sauce makes an excellent dipping sauce.Wine Advice
A fresh Sauvignon Blanc works well with the creamy mozzarella and crispy coating. Its acidity also provides a pleasant contrast when the bites are served with tomato-based Napolitana sauce.Nutrition values
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About This Recipe
Crispy Mozzarella Bites are small, golden pieces of mozzarella with a crunchy seasoned breadcrumb coating and a warm, melted centre. They capture everything people enjoy about classic mozzarella sticks but are prepared in the air fryer with only a small amount of oil. Serve them straight from the basket with warm Napolitana sauce for dipping.
Crispy Cheese Bites from the Air Fryer
Using an Air fryer gives these bites a crisp exterior without deep frying. The combination of flour, egg, milk, and breadcrumbs creates a coating that protects the mozzarella as it heats. The result is an easy Cheese recipe with a crunchy outside and soft, stretchy centre.
Why Freezing the Mozzarella Matters
The short freezing time is one of the most useful steps in this recipe. Cold mozzarella takes longer to melt, giving the breadcrumb coating time to become crisp before the cheese becomes too soft. Work carefully when coating each piece and make sure the breadcrumbs cover the mozzarella well. This helps keep more of that delicious melted cheese inside.
Perfect Fingerfood for Sharing
These air fryer mozzarella bites work particularly well as an Appetizer, Fingerfood, or warm Snack. Their small size makes them easy to serve with toothpicks at parties, on Game Day, or during a movie night. You can also include them on a platter with other Starters.
Serve with a Warm Dipping Sauce
Serve the mozzarella bites immediately after cooking while the coating is crisp and the cheese inside is still melted. Warm Napolitana makes a natural dipping sauce because its tomato flavor and acidity balance the rich mozzarella. Other tomato-based sauces or a mildly spicy dip can also work well.
Because the recipe contains no meat or fish, these crispy bites are also suitable for a Vegetarian diet when the cheeses used are vegetarian-friendly. With crunchy breadcrumbs surrounding hot mozzarella, Crispy Mozzarella Bites are an easy shareable treat that is best enjoyed fresh from the air fryer.