This is a very easy recipe for a very tasty aperitivo. Aperitivo could be considered the Italian equivalent of the Spanish tapas and it is basically finger food eaten along with drinks. It can also substitute a more substantial appetizer for a dinner party. When I first met my husband he would often tell me how much he used to love “mozzarella sticks” in the USA… while I had never even heard of them. We do not eat them in Italy… they are not a traditional Italian dish, at least not in the form many of you readers know them. I guess this could be considered the “authentic version” of mozzarella sticks, only… they are not sticks and the cheese is 100% real mozzarella. I also added anchovies, to give the cheese (which is very mild) a little extra kick. I hope you enjoy them as much as my husband does!
Ingredients:
Small mozzarelle (bocconcini)
Anchovies, halved
Egg/s, lightly beaten
Flour
Breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Salt
Drain the bocconcini from their water and pat them dry. Make a small cut in each of them and insert half an anchovy in each bocconcino.
Now coat them in flour, then in the beaten egg, then in the breadcrumbs.
Then recoat them in egg and breadcrumbs again for a double coating. This will prevent the cheese from melting outside the coating.
Deep fry in hot vegetable oil until golden brown, drain the excess oil by keeping the fried mozzarelle on a kitchen paper for a couple of minutes.
Serve warm as an appetizer/finger food with a drink.
Oh my God, Manu, these look fantastic! I never made them at home, although I love them very much! And I never ate them with anchovies!
Ok, these entered my cooking to-do-list!! 🙂
Now wishing I’d booked our hols to Italy when I see these. I could just have a whole meal of them with that chilled glass of white, crunching into that double crust to get to the stringy anchovy nectar! Just wonderful, Manu.
Sei una grandissima! Another great recipe I have never thought of making at home.
Wow, these mozzarelle look gorgeous! And your photos are fantastic, I’m mouthwatering!
Oh this looks like a great snack.. Fried cheese somehow tastes really good 🙂
I Logged in to my facebook this morning and this is the first thing I saw. I don’t care if it’s early in the morning, I want my wine and these yummy babies. LOL! They looks decadently delicious! What a beautiful shot of the dish, Manu. Great job!
– ray –
Your mozzarelle balls just made the USA cheese sticks look so, SO bad. Super delicious! Buzzed 🙂
How incredibly beautiful. Every time I read an Italian recipe, I fall in love with the country all over again. I can close my eyes and picture the streets, the buildings, the sounds and smells. Thank you for helping to recreate that for me.
Manu these are one of the best looking cheese-balls..what a great flavor!
I love fried mozzarella and I love anchovies too. Never imagined them together though! Thanks for another wonderful creation Manu! Will try this soon!
These are fantastic! Love them!! And want to have some right now!! I can only imagine how good they would be with some Olive all’Ascolana!!!
Queste mozzarelline hanno il potere di farmi venire l’acquolina in bocca subito dopo cena…che brava che sei! Bellissime anche le foto
Great recipe! Love it.
OMG Manu- these look perfect! I am drooling right now- I would like one with a big squeeze of lemon and the other with a dash of tabasco please.
Manu, what a great combination of mozzarela with anchovies! These look perfect and just right for me! Going to save the recipe.
Manu, you are amazing…artist…or chef….beautiful dish and fantastic photos….bravo:)
Wow! This is fantastic Manu! 😀
Just look at those cheese that are crunchy on the outside but soft inside! 😀
Must try this! ^.^
*btw, I can’t find these Small mozzarelle (bocconcini) here in SG, is there any other cheese that I can substitute with?
Yummy. I have never had Anchovies in Mozzarella. What a great combination. Thanks for sharing your recipe Manu.
Thank you Visda! I loved your kale recipe, in fact I am a big kale fun!!! <3
These look easy and so simple!! Pictures are mouth watering 🙂
Manu, you are a genius (I may have said this before once or twice!) The anchovies have totally lifted what could be quite a bland dish. Can’t wait to try. Great photos!
Oh I can’t believe I have missed so many of your great recipes Manu
This sounds like heaven in every bite…can’t beat melted cheese
So cool! I can imagine all sorts of little treats tucked inside of those mozzarella nuggets!
Super Bowl food!!! Yum!!!!!!!