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"Cheese sticks" redirects here. For the individually packaged lunch product, see string cheese.
Mozzarella sticks
CourseAppetizer
Place of originAmerica
Cooking time 15 minutes to 3 hours
Serving temperatureFresh from the fryer
Main ingredientsMozzarella cheese, breading
VariationsBel Paese instead of mozzarella[1][2]
Food energy
(per 100 g serving)
325 kcal (1361 kJ)[3]
Nutritional value
(per 100 g serving)
Protein14.75 g
Fat18.33 g
Carbohydrate25.14 g
Similar dishesMozzarella in carrozza, arancini

Mozzarella sticks (also referred to as fried mozzarella,[4][5] mozzarella milanese[1][2] or mozzarella fritta[6][7]) are an appetizer or snack often paired with marinara dipping sauce. They're frequently mistaken as traditional Italian in origin, when they're actually a part of Italian-American cuisine and possibly derived from an old French recipe from the 14th century. Mozzarella sticks grew in popularity in America in the 1970s following the spread of deep fryers and the popularity of pizza. They are a finger food that can be found on the menus of sports bars, dive bars, casual restaurants, pizza restaurants and bowling alleys.

History

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The exact origins are unknown,[8] but most sources point to a recipe for "pipefarce" published in the 1393 medieval French guidebook Le Ménagier de Paris as the earliest known recording of a dish resembling modern mozzarella sticks.[9][10][11] The guidebook was written from the perspective of a fictional elderly man giving advice to his younger wife on proper marriage behavior. Unlike modern recipes, this recipe uses wine in the batter[12] and muenster cheese instead of mozzarella.[9][10]

While they're often associated with the country of Italy, they are not a part of Italian cuisine.[8][9][10][13] According to Dr. John Gennari, University of Vermont professor of cultural studies, the confusion likely stems from the fact that buffalo mozzarella is an Italian creation and the word "mozzarella" itself has an Italian connotation.[8] Classic Italian cuisine does, however, include a similar dish called mozzarella in carrozza ("buffalo cheese in a carriage"[2]) in which slices of cheese are placed between thin slices of bread, battered and fried.[2][14] The Italian island of Sicily also has a dish called arancini, which is a ball of rice that's breaded and deep-fried, and may contain mozzarella in the center among other possible fillings.[13]

Mozzarella sticks, along with other Italian-American cuisine dishes such as pizza, spaghetti with meatballs and chicken parmesan, began to appear in America during the Italian diaspora in the early 1900s.[8] Guarino's, the oldest Italian restaurant in Little Italy, Cleveland (though, not the oldest Italian restaurant in the US), began serving fried mozzarella when it opened in 1918.[15] The advent of new frying technology in the 1960s made fried foods inexpensive and easy for vendors to sell, allowing dive bars and bowling alleys to start offering onion rings, french fries, buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks. Widespread popularity of mozzarella sticks in America didn't begin until the late 1970s, following the rise of pizza's popularity in the 1960s.[8] They elevated in popularity again with the rapid expansion of American casual dining restaurants such as Applebee's, Chili's and T.G.I Friday's in the 1980s and 1990s. Mozzarella sticks were one of the first appetizer items on Applebee's menu when it opened.[8] By the 2000s and 2010s, some American fast-food restaurant chains including Burger King[16] and Sonic Drive-In added mozzarella sticks to their menu. In 2016, McDonald's was subject to heavy criticism and eventually a class-action lawsuit for the mozzarella sticks they served, with customers alleging that the chain was serving hollow cheeseless sticks and that the cheese they used was not 100% mozzarella.[17][18][19][20][21] In 2020, T.G.I Friday's faced a class-action lawsuit for allegedly serving mozzarella sticks made with cheddar and defrauding its customers.[22]

Food reporter Emily Heil noted that Pizza Hut's mozzarella stick crust pizza of 2020 was part of a trend of what she referred to as a recent "parade of food mash-ups" in America, alongside ramen hamburger buns, sushi burritos and the Cronut.[23] Other American eateries used mozzarella sticks in unconventional ways around this time, including Denny's, which offered a grilled cheese sandwich that used mozzarella sticks,[24] and Walt Disney World, which offered a cheeseburger topped with mozzarella sticks.[25]

Preparation and serving

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Mozzarella sticks are made from slices or sticks from a larger block of cheese, or sticks of string cheese. These pieces are either dipped in batter or rolled in breadcrumbs before dipping in oil for frying. To prevent the cheese from melting and leaching out into the oil while cooking, the battered sticks are often frozen before frying.[26] Pre-prepared mozzarella sticks are also sold in frozen food sections of most grocery stores that can be either fried in oil or baked in an oven.

Mozzarella is the most popular cheese for frying because it's one of a few "melt-restricted" cheeses.[27] These are cheeses that can soften when heated, but won't lose their identity or separate because of their lower fat content and a larger network of the protein casein.[28][29] Alternative melt-restricted cheeses that could be used to make this dish include cheddar cheese,[27] Bel Paese[1][2] or cheese curds.[30] The UK supermarket Morrisons offers vegan mozzarella sticks that substitute cheese with a mixture of coconut oil and potato starch.[31]

They're served with dipping sauces, most commonly with tomato-based marinara sauce. Casual family restaurants often order a variety of dipping options, including ranch dressing and honey mustard. Mozzarella sticks with raspberry sauce are part of the regional cuisine of New York's Capital District.[32]

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  • Mozzarella in carrozza – An Italian dish with mozzarella cheese between two slices of bread that's battered and fried.[2][14]
  • Arancini – A Sicilian dish with a ball of rice that's breaded and fried, and may contain a variety of fillings often including mozzarella.[13]
  • Waffle iron mozzarella sticks – Instead of deep frying the sticks, they're cooked in a lightly greased waffle iron. This method avoids the use of oil and adds nooks for better dipping practices.[33][34]
  • Chicken mozzarella sticks – A hybrid of mozzarella sticks with chicken nuggets or chicken fingers.[35][36]
  • Bacon mozzarella sticks – In addition to or instead of breading, a layer of bacon is wrapped around the mozzarella cheese before frying.[37][38][39]
  • Pickle mozzarella sticks – A pickled cucumber is cored, stuffed with cheese, breaded and then deep-fried.[40]
  • Fried cheese donuts – German McDonald's locations offer rings of crispy battered and fried Camembert cheese. They are served with cranberry dipping sauce.[41][42]
  • Doritos Loaded – Shaped like a triangular chip, Doritos Loaded are a breaded and fried food filled with nacho cheese that are often compared to mozzarella sticks.[43][44]
  • Cheetos mozzarella sticks – An otherwise traditional mozzarella stick that uses either crushed regular or Flamin' Hot Cheetos instead of breadcrumbs.[45][46]
  • As a topping – Several American restaurants have used mozzarella sticks as a topping on other food items. In 2010, Denny's offered the "Fried Cheese Melt" that was four mozzarella sticks inside of a grilled cheese sandwich.[24] As a launch item for its 2013 late-night Jack's Munchie Meal menu, Jack in the Box offered the "Exploding Cheesy Chicken Sandwich" that included a layer of mozzarella sticks.[47] To promote the film Incredibles 2 in 2018, Walt Disney World offered a cheeseburger that included mozzarella sticks and was served on a bun grilled with the Incredibles logo.[25] The New Jersey restaurant Brother Bruno's serves a pizza that's topped with mozzarella sticks, among other things.[48] In 2020, Pizza Hut offered a specialty crust with bite-sized mozzarella stick "poppers" baked on top of the crust.[23]
  • As a flavor – Several bands of potato chips and other snack foods have released mozzarella-stick-flavored variations, including Ruffles, Lay's, Pringles and Goldfish.[49]
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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c David 1954, p. 109
  2. ^ a b c d e f Root 1971, p. 289
  3. ^ "Basic Report: Restaurant, family style, fried mozzarella sticks". USDA. United States National Agricultural Library. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  4. ^ "Fried Mozzarella Recipe". Delish. Hearst Communications. December 7, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  5. ^ Bastianich 2011, p. 22
  6. ^ Caggiano 2006, p. 60
  7. ^ Hazelton 2015, p. 149
  8. ^ a b c d e f Fulton, Wil (February 1, 2017). "The Mozzarella Stick's Origins Are Actually Fiercely Debated". Thrillist. Group Nine Media. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Zorn, Marc (July 26, 2014). "Who Invented Mozzarella Sticks". Vision Launch. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Jay, Kitty (2009). "Italian foods they don't serve in Italy". Mashed. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Lapetina, Adam (July 21, 2014). "The True Origins of 11 of Your Favorite Fried Foods". Thrillist. Group Nine Media. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Friedman, David. "Le Menagier de Paris". David D. Friedman's Home Page. Translated by Hinson, Janet. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c Locampo, Vanessa (April 6, 2020). "Sorry To Burst Your Bubble, But They Don't Actually Eat These 'Italian' Dishes In Italy". The Travel. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Mariani 2011, p. 110
  15. ^ Mariani 2011, p. 104
  16. ^ Pomranz, Mike (May 30, 2019). "Burger King Just Launched Three Menu Items Nationwide, Including a French Toast Sandwich". Food & Wine. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Anwar, Mehak (November 11, 2015). "McDonald's Mozzarella Sticks Are Here, But It's Not The Only Time The Burger Joint Has Offered Italian Fare". Bustle. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  18. ^ Bellomo, Reheanna O'Neil (February 3, 2016). "McDonald's is Getting Sued For Its Cheeseless Mozzarella Sticks". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  19. ^ Wattles, Jackie (February 3, 2016). "McDonald's sued for alleged mock mozzarella in cheese sticks". CNNMoney. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  20. ^ Hatic, Dana (February 2, 2016). "McDonald's Mozzarella Sticks Are Now the Subject of a Class Action Lawsuit". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  21. ^ Peterson, Hayley (January 27, 2016). "These McDonald's Mozzarella Sticks Have a Problem: No Cheese". Slate. The Slate Group. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  22. ^ Behr, Felix (December 4, 2020). "People are suing TGI Friday's over its mozzarella sticks. Here's why". Mashed. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Heil, Emily (February 14, 2020). "We tried Pizza Hut's mozzarella popper crust pizza and contemplated how we ended up here". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  24. ^ a b Chillag, Ian (August 30, 2010). "Sandwich Monday: The Denny's Fried Cheese Melt". NPR. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  25. ^ a b Adebowale, Temi (June 18, 2018). "Disney World Is Now Selling A Burger Topped With Mozzarella Sticks". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  26. ^ Goldberg, Elyssa (February 18, 2016). "No Other Mozzarella Sticks Matter". Bon Appétit. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Mallikarjunan 2009, p. 93
  28. ^ Ramesh 2011
  29. ^ Donnelly 2016
  30. ^ Staalstrom, Christina (August 3, 2010). "Fried Cheese Curds = Midwestern Mozzarella Sticks". Miami New Times. Voice Media Group. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  31. ^ "Morrisons has just launched vegan mozzarella sticks". Vegan Food & Living. April 3, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  32. ^ "New York State Food Regions Map". All Over Albany. 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  33. ^ Miyashiro, Lauren (August 10, 2017). "PSA: The Best Way To Cook Mozzarella Sticks Is In Your Waffle Maker". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  34. ^ Shummski, Daniel (2015). "Waffle Iron Fried' Cheese (Queso Frito) Recipe". Serious Eats. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  35. ^ Ayrouth, Elie (December 1, 2015). "Chicken Cheese Sticks Are The Bastard Child Of Mozzarella Sticks And Chicken Fries". Foodbeast. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  36. ^ Spence, Shaye (November 3, 2017). "How to Make Chicken Tenders That Are Also Mozzarella Sticks (Yes, You Read That Right)". People. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  37. ^ "Bacon-Fried Mozzarella Sticks By Oh Bite It Will Have Your Mouth Watering In Seconds". Bustle. March 17, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  38. ^ Thomson, Julie R. (December 9, 2015). "Bacon Is About To Take Mozzarella Sticks On A Wild Ride". HuffPost. Oath Inc. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  39. ^ "Sweet & Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Mozz Sticks". Buzzfeed. January 29, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  40. ^ Abraham, Lena (November 25, 2017). "All Hail Pickle Mozzarella Sticks". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  41. ^ Sutter, Collier (May 1, 2018). "McDonald's Fried Cheese Donuts Are 100 Times Better Than Their Fries". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  42. ^ Rosenberg, Lizzy (May 5, 2018). "Here's Where To Get McDonald's Fried Cheese Donuts If You're Craving The New Snack". Elite Daily. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  43. ^ Fantozzi, Sienna (July 9, 2015). "Burger King Testing The Doritos Version of Mozzarella Sticks". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  44. ^ "Doritos Loaded Spotted At 7-Eleven, Could Be The Best Doritos Mashup Yet". HuffPost. Oath Inc. February 11, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  45. ^ Thompson, Dillon (October 16, 2020). "Hot Cheetos mozzarella sticks are taking over TikTok — so we tried making them ourselves". Yahoo!. Verizon Media. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  46. ^ Wilson, Mark (September 23, 2019). "Meet the mastermind inventing fast food's craziest menu items (Cheetos mozzarella stick, anyone?)". Fast Company. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  47. ^ "Jack in the Box Now Has a Cheeseburger Topped with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich & More Munchie Monstrosities". HuffPost. Oath Inc. September 24, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  48. ^ Mueller, Carl (February 8, 2017). "This pizza is piled with mozz sticks". Business Insider. Insider Inc. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  49. ^ Jackson, Danielle (February 2, 2018). "Mozzarella Stick-Flavored Potato Chips Are A Thing Now". Delish. Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 12, 2018.

Bibliography

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