Description
Sometimes even the most fun of foods needs a little refresh. Not only are these mozzarella puffs crispier and more fun to eat than the original fried mozzarella stick, but they’re also easier since no breading is required! I haven’t forgotten the marinara sauce, but feel free to use other sauces.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup marinara sauce, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 4 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese
- 4 cups canola oil for frying
- 1 anchovy fillet
Instructions
- Combine water
- butter
- and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer; pour in flour all at once and reduce heat to medium. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a dough starts coming together. Cook
- scraping up and stirring the dough
- for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat; transfer dough to a mixing bowl. Let cool until no longer hot but still very warm
- 5 to 10 minutes. Add egg and season with cayenne and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk vigorously until mixture combines into a very soft
- sticky dough. Switch to a spatula and scrape dough into a ball.
- Seal dough and spatula with plastic wrap and refrigerate in the bowl until cool
- about 1 hour.
- In the meantime
- season marinara sauce with oregano
- red pepper flakes
- balsamic vinegar in a small pot over medium heat. Add anchovy fillet. Stir together and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 10 minutes; turn off heat and let sit until ready to use.
- Grate mozzarella cheese over the dough and stir to combine.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) in a deep fryer or heavy-duty pan over medium heat. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C) or any temperature for keeping warm.
- Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of dough per puff and form into a football shape using two spoons. Fry puffs
- 5 or 6 at a time
- in the hot oil until browned
- 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Keep puffs warm in low oven while frying the rest. Serve with hot marinara sauce.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 6