Crispy Baked Mozzarella Bites with Marinara Sauce
- 1 cup crushed (canned) Italian tomatoes with garlic, oregano & basil
- 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped basil leaves
- ½ tbsp Italian dry seasoning
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- 2 pinches salt
- Fresh cracked pepper to taste
- Frozen low fat mozzarella string cheese (8 sticks, cut into 1 inch pieces) *See note
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup flour
- 2 eggs (well beaten)
- ½ tbsp paprika
- Canola oil cooking spray
- In small saucepan add olive oil on medium low heat
- Add garlic and Italian seasoning,
- As soon as garlic begins to get tender (don’t burn the garlic), add tomatoes and stir
- Add sea salt, pepper and basil
- Simmer on low for 5 minutes.
- Serve alongside mozzarella bites
- Turn on oven broiler.
- Start with frozen mozzarella pieces. Only remove cheese from the freezer once you are ready to prepare the recipe
- In small batches, coat cheese in flour, dusting off excess and set aside
- Add paprika to panko and mix well
- Dip cheese in eggs and then roll or shake cheese in panko/paprika mix
- Place on greased cookie sheet
- Lightly spray breaded mozzarella pieces with canola oil, holding at least 6-8 inches away
- Bake for 3-5 minutes until brown and cheese just starts to melt
- Serve with homemade (recipe above) or favorite store bought marinara sauce
Recipe by 5 Minutes for Mom at http://www.5minutesformom.com/83090/crispy-baked-mozzarella-bites-with-marinara-sauce/
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