Ingredients
1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese
¾ cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or substitute with mozzarella or Pepper Jack)
3 tablespoons (0.75 ounces) cornstarch
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 large eggs, beaten
1 ½ cups (3 ounces) Panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup (1 ounce) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup peanut oil (or enough for about one inch depth in the pan)
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Minced fresh parsley
Instructions
1-Mix and Chill the Mixture: First, combine 1 ½ cups shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese, ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and 3 tablespoons cornstarch in a bowl. Add 1 large lightly beaten egg and stir until well mixed. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes to help it firm up.
2-Mix and Chill the Mixture: This chilling step is crucial as it prevents the balls from falling apart later. It’s a simple way to lock in flavors and make handling easier.
3-Form and Coat the Balls: Next, use a 1 ½ tablespoon scoop to form the chilled mixture into 1-inch balls, each about 19 grams. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet for easy transfer.
4-Form and Coat the Balls: Then, set up a coating station with beaten eggs and a mix of 1 ½ cups Panko breadcrumbs and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Dip each ball in the eggs, roll in the breadcrumb mixture, and repeat for a double coat. Chill the coated balls for another 30 minutes to set the crust.
5-Fry and Serve: Heat 1 cup peanut oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F. Fry the balls in batches of 5-6 for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and garnish with grated Parmesan and minced parsley if desired.
6-Fry and Serve: Serve them hot with sauces like marinara or hot honey. The total time is about 1 hour 25 minutes, including 15 minutes prep and 10 minutes cooking. For variations, baking at 400°F for 15-20 minutes works for a lighter option.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🧊 Chill the cheese mixture to help form firm balls and prevent melting during frying.
🍞 Double coating with egg and breadcrumbs ensures extra crispiness.
🌡️ Maintain the oil temperature at 350°F for perfect frying without greasiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chilling Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cheese balls
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 260mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
