FRIED MOZZARELLA PUFFS

Fried Mozzarella Puffs image

Sometimes even the most fun of foods needs a little refresh. Not only are these mozzarella puffs crispier and more fun to eat than the original fried mozzarella stick, but they're also easier since no breading is required! I haven't forgotten the marinara sauce, but feel free to use other sauces.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Pastries

Time 1h40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

⅓ cup water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup marinara sauce, or to taste
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
4 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese
4 cups canola oil for frying
1 anchovy fillet

Steps:

Combine water, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer; pour in flour all at once and reduce heat to medium. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a dough starts coming together. Cook, scraping up and stirring the dough, for 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove from heat; transfer dough to a mixing bowl. Let cool until no longer hot but still very warm, 5 to 10 minutes. Add egg and season with cayenne and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk vigorously until mixture combines into a very soft, sticky dough. Switch to a spatula and scrape dough into a ball.
Seal dough and spatula with plastic wrap and refrigerate in the bowl until cool, about 1 hour.
In the meantime, season marinara sauce with oregano, red pepper flakes, balsamic vinegar in a small pot over medium heat. Add anchovy fillet. Stir together and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 10 minutes; turn off heat and let sit until ready to use.
Grate mozzarella cheese over the dough and stir to combine.
Heat oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) in a deep fryer or heavy-duty pan over medium heat. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C) or any temperature for keeping warm.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of dough per puff and form into a football shape using two spoons. Fry puffs, 5 or 6 at a time, in the hot oil until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Keep puffs warm in low oven while frying the rest. Serve with hot marinara sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288.7 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 54.7 mg, Fat 23.7 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 7.4 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 645.4 mg, Sugar 4.1 g