Description
Mozzarella en Carrozza is a traditional Italian appetizer consisting of layers of creamy mozzarella cheese sandwiched between slices of white bread, then dipped in an egg batter and fried to golden perfection. The result is a crispy, melty delight with a savory, cheesy center that’s perfect served with lemon wedges, anchovy sauce, or marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Bread
- 8 slices white bread (crust removed)
- 1 pound block mozzarella (sliced 1/4" thick)
Batter and Coating
- 5 large eggs (beaten)
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/4 cup parsley (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/4 cup flour
For Frying
- 1/4 cup olive oil (plus 2 tablespoons for initial frying)
Instructions
- Prepare the egg batter: In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, whole milk, kosher salt, black pepper, Pecorino Romano cheese, and minced parsley until well combined. Set aside.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Place two slices or enough mozzarella to cover one slice of bread, then top with another slice of bread to form a sandwich. Cut each sandwich diagonally into two triangles, making a total of 8 triangles.
- Heat the pan and oil: Heat a large nonstick pan over medium to medium-low heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Coat the sandwiches with flour: Dredge each mozzarella sandwich triangle in flour, covering all sides, then shake off any excess flour to ensure a thin coating.
- Dip in egg batter: Re-beat the egg mixture briefly, then soak each floured triangle in the egg batter for 20 seconds on one side, flip it, and soak the other side for another 20 seconds, ensuring thorough coating.
- Fry the sandwiches: Place the egg-battered triangles into the hot pan and fry until they turn golden brown on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip carefully and fry the other side for an additional 2 minutes until golden and crispy. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding, adding the remaining olive oil as needed for subsequent batches.
- Drain and keep warm: Transfer the fried sandwiches onto a wire rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain excess oil. To keep warm, place them in a 170°F oven if preparing a large batch.
- Serve: Serve the Mozzarella en Carrozza warm with lemon wedges, anchovy sauce, or marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Mozzarella en Carrozza is a classic Italian appetizer featuring melty mozzarella sandwiched between bread, battered and fried to a crispy golden crust.
- Removing the crust from the bread helps create a uniform texture and better frying results.
- Cutting the sandwiches into triangles makes them easier to handle and serve.
- Maintaining medium to medium-low heat during frying prevents burning while allowing the cheese to melt completely.
- Keeping finished sandwiches in a warm oven helps maintain their crispy texture and warm cheese filling when preparing in batches.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 611 kcal
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 1298 mg
- Fat: 46.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 20.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.8 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 36.9 g
- Cholesterol: 302 mg
