Mozzarella Sticks

When I was a kid before food became the center of my life, one of my strongest personality traits was being the pickiest eater you knew. I was the type of kid that couldn’t have two different food items touching on the same plate. I didn’t explore too much beyond the 5 core foods of a picky eater, cheese pizza, burgers with fries, pasta with meatballs, chicken tenders, and mozzarella sticks, especially when we went out to eat. They were all a beacon of hope that saved an otherwise hopeless child

Gluten-Free Tuesday: Mozzarella Sticks

Cheese melts. I was reminded of this when I first attempted to make gluten-free mozzarella sticks. The cheese sticks kept melting in the hot oil. Instead of crispy sticks with oozy centers, I had cheese that was a runny mess. Then I remembered a technique I hadn't used in years: double dipping during the first part of the standard breading procedure. While double dipping is never, ever welcome at parties, it's more than welcome in this recipe.

Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread (Oven or Air Fryer)

Stuffed with herbed garlic butter and mozzarella, this Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread is one of my family's favorites. Easy to make in the air fryer or oven for an appetizer, snack, or side dish.

Mozzarella-Stuffed Crispy Baked Onion Rings

Ultra-crunchy onion rings and melty mozzarella sticks combine to make a bar food mash-up that's out of this world. No fussing with hot oil necessary—these are baked, not fried!

/mozzarella-in-carrozza

Mozzarella in Carrozza, the grilled cheese only Italians eat

Deep Fried Pizza

[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] This pizza may sound heavy, but it comes out light, crisp, and airy. Easily one of the best, tastiest ways to cook pizza at home without a wood-burning oven. Note: Use high quality fresh mozzarella or...

Crispy Caprese Salad

Usually when you make a caprese salad, you pull mozzarella out of the fridge and slice it up cold. And cold mozzarella is not the best way to serve it. It also lacks texture. Breading and frying the mozzarella warms it back up, brings the milkiness back and makes it resemble more of a just made mozzarella, and the breading adds a flavor texture that make this variation of caprese worth a shot.

Chicken Milanese (Stovetop + Air Fryer)

One of my family's favorite dinners is Chicken Milanese. These crisp chicken cutlets, served with a bright arugula salad, are on the table in just 30 minutes. Fry them on the stove or in an air fryer!

Fried Caprese Bombs

This deep-fried hors d'oeuvre is part caprese salad, part mozzarella stick, and completely welcome at any get-together.

Crunchy Garlic and Herb Bread Sticks

[Photograph: Donna Currie] I used parsley here but oregano, rosemary, or thyme would also be great. If you substitute one of those for parsley, I suggest using less since they all pack so much flavor; you don't want the herbs...