Ingredients:
- String cheese sticks (part-skim or reduced-fat mozzarella)
- 1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (or breadcrumbs of your choice)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs
- Cooking spray
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Prepare the Breading Mixture:
- In a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, dried basil, and garlic powder. Mix well.
3. Beat the Eggs:
- In another shallow dish, beat the eggs.
4. Coat the Cheese Sticks:
- Take each string cheese stick and dip it into the beaten eggs, making sure it’s well-coated.
- Then, roll the cheese stick in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the cheese to adhere.
5. Repeat Coating:
- For an extra-crispy coating, you can repeat the process by dipping the cheese stick back into the eggs and breadcrumbs.
6. Arrange on a Baking Sheet:
- Place the coated cheese sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Freeze:
- Freeze the coated cheese sticks for about 20-30 minutes. This step helps the breading adhere better during baking.
8. Bake:
- Lightly coat the frozen cheese sticks with cooking spray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
9. Cool and Serve:
- Allow the mozzarella sticks to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or a side of Greek yogurt for dipping.
