Fried Mozzarella With Puttanesca Dipping Sauce

Submitted by Sharon123

"From Emeril Live, a wonderful yummy snack or make it lunch with a nice salad!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 26
• Yields: 45 mozzarella squares

ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 lbs regular mozzarella cheese or 2 lbs smoked mozzarella cheese (cut into 1 inch cubes)
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1⁄2 cups Italian style breadcrumbs
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• vegetable oil, for frying
• 6-inch skewer, or fondue forks,for dipping

• Puttanesca Dipping Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole Italian plum tomatoes, pureed in a blender,with juice
• 1⁄2 cup pitted and finely chopped kalamata olive
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon drained capers
• 1 tablespoon minced anchovy fillet (4 to 5 fillets) (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
• salt

• Essence use 1/2 tsp

• 3 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

directions

1. Pat the mozzarella dry, making sure there is no water on the surface, and set aside.
2. Place the flour in a shallow dish.
3. Mix together the milk and eggs and place in a shallow bowl.
4. Stir together the bread crumbs, Essence, and salt and place in a shallow dish.
5. Heat vegetable oil about 1 1/2 inches deep, in a heavy saucepan or deep-fryer over medium-high heat to 325 to 330 degrees F.
6. Dredge the mozzarella in the flour, shaking off any excess flour.
7. Dip in the egg mixture and then the bread crumbs.
8. Place mozzarella in hot oil and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
10. Allow the mozzarella to stand for 3 to 5 minutes before serving, to allow the cheese to melt the entire way through.
11. Serve warm on skewers or fondue forks with Puttanesca Dipping Sauce.

12. To make the dipping sauce:

13. In a medium pot heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
14. Add the onion and saute until soft and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes.
15. Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.
16. Add the tomatoes and the remaining ingredients and simmer until the sauce is thickened and slightly reduced, about 20 minutes.
17. Add salt to taste, cover and set aside.
18. Serve sauce warm or at room temperature.
19. Enjoy!

20. Yield: about 3 cups To make the Essence:

21. Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
22. Yield: 2/3 cup.

Reviews

[rosslare]

Nice treat! I used baby mozzarella balls. As soon as the coating turned golden, the balls started to puff up and burst the coating, so be ready to scoop them out of oil instantly. They did firm up in seconds after coming out of the oil, so no harm done but to the appearece. I did spice the dipping sauce up a bit more, too. Mozzarella balls are so bland otherwise, but they did work just great in this recipe.

 

[Mimi Bobeck]

oh Gawd this was heaven. I made this with the intention of sharing with host family, but ended up eating the WHOLE thing myself. Since the house already was permeating with the scent of Puttenesca sauce, I made more of the Puttenesca (quadupleted the recipe for the family) and was added some to pasta for kids, (I mixed it with some regular tomato sauce to dilute the flavor of anchovies and capers because kids don't have the same sophisticated palates as adults.)and toasted bread (brucetta style) for the Grown ups. Wonderful! Thank you Sharon!