Mozzarella sticks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mozzarella sticks, sometimes called mozza sticks, mozzies, cheese sticks, or fried mozzarella are rectangular or cylindrical prisms of breaded or battered mozzarella cheese. This deep-fried snack is most often served at restaurants or pizza parlors as an appetizer or as North American pub fare.
Fried cheese sticks are often served with tomato or marinara sauce, as well as plum jalapeño jelly or ranch dressing. Other mild cheeses such as provolone or edam are sometimes used in place of the mozzarella, with cheddar an occasional regional variation.
Mozzarella sticks may be purchased in the frozen section of grocery stores for preparation at home. Such sticks may be microwaved or baked, as the frozen sticks are almost always pre-fried.
[edit] Origin
The concept of mozzarella sticks has its origins in the 14th century. A French work, dated 1393, entitled Le Menagier de Paris, has a recipe for fried cheese sticks. In this document they are referred to as pipefarces, which means stuffed straws. These sticks, however, are "Muenster sticks" as opposed to Mozzarella sticks.
