Crispy Mozzarella Bites
Crispy Mozzarella Bites are golden air fryer snacks filled with warm, melted mozzarella and coated in seasoned breadcrumbs. Freezing the cheese briefly before cooking helps keep it inside the crispy coating. Serve them hot with warm Napolitana sauce for dipping.
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
Serving: 1 gr | Calories: 285 kcal | Carbohydrates: 15 g | Protein: 19 g | Fat: 17 g | Saturated Fat: 9 g | Sodium: 520 mg | Sugar: 2 g