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I am such a fan of mozzarella sticks – and halloumi sticks, and mozzarella balls, and any type of cheese lined in a crumb – and in the event that they’re on a menu, you may ensure that I will be ordering them.
Nonetheless, I’ve by no means been capable of replicate the crisp coating and melted heart at house. That was till I found this Cheetos-coated mozzarella stick air fryer recipe on YouTube Shorts.
The unique video was posted by Lisa Nguyen – a YouTuber with greater than 4.2 million subscribers – and the recipe takes simply 10 minutes from begin to end. At 19 million views, and counting, the recipe I adopted is proof that the most effective air fryers are simply nearly as good for making fast snacks as they’re for cooking up bigger meals and sides.
Beneath, I information you thru how you can make Lisa’s mozzarella sticks recipe at house, and counsel how one can put your personal spin on this comforting tacky deal with.
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Air fryer mozzarella sticks recipe
In her video, Lisa uses hot Cheetos to form the crumb coating for the mozzarella sticks. I’m not a fan, so I opted for standard Cheetos instead. However, any corn puffs, or potato chips for that matter, will do the job. You just need to make sure they’re finely crushed.
You can also use breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, or anything else you can think of that will from a crispy coating once cooked. The same goes for swapping out mozzarella for halloumi, for example, or using a vegan cheese alternative.
In Lisa’s original video, her mozzarella sticks were uniform in size and shape, but I couldn’t find such sticks in my local store. Instead, I bought a mozzarella ball and cut it into strips to get the same effect.
Air fryer mozzarella sticks ingredients
The amount of ingredients you need will depend on the number of sticks you want to make. The amounts listed below use one mozzarella ball, which makes around eight sticks.
You can also use frozen mozzarella sticks; but, be aware that cooking times may vary.
- 120g Cheetos
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 1 cup of flour
- Mozzarella sticks/ball
Although this particular recipe isn’t suitable for vegans, you could replace the mozzarella and Cheetos with vegan alternatives, and replace the chicken eggs with flaxseed eggs (flaxseeds mixed with water).
Air fryer mozzarella sticks method
I used the Tower T17099 Vortx Eco Dual Basket Air Fryer (opens in new tab), set at 380°F (200°C) for seven minutes. This resulted in a crispy crumb and melted center that didn’t ooze out of the coating.
Step 1: Cut the mozzarella ball into strips.
Step 2: Pour the flour into one bowl, beat two eggs into a second bowl, and crush Cheetos into a third, shallow dish.
Step 3: Coat each stick individually in flour before dipping it into the beaten eggs.
Step 4: Remove any excess egg and then roll the mozzarella stick in the crushed Cheetos. Gently squeeze the stick and Cheetos in the palm of your hand to press the crumb into the cheese.
Step 5: Place the coated mozzarella sticks in rows in the air fryer. Space the sticks as far apart as possible – and, ideally, on a grill rack. If you don’t have a grill rack, line the basket in aluminum foil to make it easy to get the sticks out once they’re cooked.
Step 6: Set the air fryer to 380°F (200°C) and leave to cook for seven minutes. If you’re using frozen mozzarella sticks, adjust the cooking time accordingly. Make sure the sticks are piping hot all the way through before serving.
Step 7: Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool briefly before serving. This is to maintain the structural integrity of the sticks and avoid them melting in your hands.
Air fryer mozzarella sticks recipe verdict
If you’re a cheese lover, you won’t go wrong with this quick, tasty and comforting recipe. The mozzarella sticks are the perfect starter or snack, and they’ll definitely be on the menu the next time I have friends over.
Despite the softness of the Cheetos corn puffs, they crisp up enough to add a cheesy bite to the soft center.
They don’t quite have the crunch of deep-fried sticks, but neither do they have the calories, so it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to have mozzarella sticks at home.
If you’re still sitting on the fence and wondering whether to buy an air fryer, you may want to read our article to decide whether air fryers are worth it?
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