Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients

• String Cheese

  Mozzarella, Reduced Fat - Kraft Foods, Inc.

  12 stick or 336g

• Egg

  Whole, fresh eggs

  1 large or 50g

• Wheat flour

  Whole-grain

  2 tbsp or 15g

• Bread crumbs

  Dry, grated, plain

  5 tbsp or 34g

• Parmesan cheese

  Grated

  2 tsp or 4g

• Parsley

  Spices, dried

  1 tbsp or 2g

• Pam cooking spray

  Oil, original

  4 spray , about 1/3 second or 1g

• Pasta sauce

  Spaghetti/marinara, ready-to-serve

  1 cup or 257g

Directions

1. Cut each string cheese in half to make sticks, then freeze on a tray until completely solid.
2. Beat the egg in a small bowl. Place the flour in a shallow dish.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the seasoned and plain breadcrumbs with the grated Parmesan and dried parsley.
4. Working with a few at a time, coat the frozen cheese sticks in flour, shake off excess, dip in egg, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture to cover completely.
5. Arrange the coated sticks on a wax-paper-lined tray and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
7. Place the frozen breaded sticks on the prepared sheet, mist the tops with cooking spray, and bake on the lower oven rack for 4–5 minutes.
8. Turn the sticks and bake 4–5 minutes more, watching closely and removing as soon as the cheese starts to soften to avoid leaking.
9. Warm the marinara, if desired, and serve the mozzarella sticks immediately for best texture.