Description
Mozzarella en Carrozza is a classic Italian appetizer featuring slices of creamy mozzarella cheese sandwiched between soft white bread, then dipped in a seasoned egg batter and fried to a golden, crispy perfection. This dish offers a delightful contrast of textures with a crispy exterior and a warm, melty center, perfect for serving as a savory starter or snack alongside lemon wedges, anchovy sauce, or marinara.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Cheese
- 8 slices white bread, crust removed
- 1 pound block mozzarella, sliced 1/4″ thick
Batter
- 5 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup parsley, minced
For Frying
- 1/4 cup olive oil (plus additional 2 tablespoons for initial heating)
- 1/4 cup flour
Instructions
- Prepare the egg batter: In a bowl, beat together the eggs, whole milk, kosher salt, black pepper, grated Pecorino Romano, and minced parsley until well combined and set aside.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Lay down two slices or enough mozzarella to cover one slice of bread, then top with another slice of bread. Cut each sandwich diagonally into two triangles, repeating until you have 8 triangles total.
- Heat the pan: Warm a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium-low heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to coat the pan.
- Flour the triangles: Dredge each mozzarella sandwich triangle in flour on all sides, shaking off any excess flour before proceeding.
- Soak in egg batter: Re-beat the egg mixture briefly, then soak each floured triangle in the egg batter for about 20 seconds per side, ensuring thorough coating.
- Fry the sandwiches: Place the egg-battered triangles in the hot skillet and fry until golden brown on the bottom, approximately 2 minutes per side. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding, adding more olive oil as needed between batches.
- Drain and keep warm: Transfer the fried sandwiches to a wire rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain excess oil. Keep finished sandwiches warm in a 170°F oven until ready to serve.
- Serve: Serve warm with lemon wedges, anchovy sauce, or marinara sauce on the side as accompaniments.
Notes
- Mozzarella en Carrozza is a beloved Italian appetizer that combines crispy fried bread with a molten mozzarella center for a satisfying texture contrast.
- Removing the crust from the bread ensures a softer, more uniform texture after frying.
- Maintaining appropriate oil temperature during frying prevents the sandwiches from absorbing too much oil and keeps them crispy.
- Using a wire rack for draining helps maintain crispiness by allowing oil to drip away instead of pooling.
- Served best fresh and warm for the ideal ooey-gooey cheese experience.
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: 24.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.8 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 36.9 g
- Cholesterol: 302 mg
