Mozzarella in Carrozza is an Italian Grilled Cheese sandwich that is battered and fried to a golden crisp! Dip these crispy sandwiches in marinara or tomato soup for a complete & delicious meal!
What does Mozzarella en Carrozza mean?
Mozzarella en Carrozza is Itallian for ‘Mozzarella in a Carriage’. The bread acts as the carriage for the cheese as they are battered and fried.
Mozzarella in Carrozza was originally made in the Campania region of Southern Italy. It was popular as ‘peasant food’ because it was the perfect way to use up stale bread and leftover mozzarella.
Other regions of Italy have different variations on these crispy cheese sandwiches. In Rome, they add sardines. Mozzarella in Carrozza is still popular today as street food and in bars and restaurants. It is often served as a snack or an appetizer.
What you Need to make Mozzarella in Carrozza
Because of its origins as peasant food, Mozzarella in Carrozza is simple to prepare from very few ingredients. You can feel free to add spices, herbs, or thinly sliced meats if you have them on hand!
You’ll need:
Sliced bread: Either homemade or store-bought is fine but it should be thinly sliced. Stale bread is perfect to use here!
Mozzarella Cheese: I used whole milk Mozzarella but you can use low moisture mozzarella as well. Traditionally, mozzarella di bufala was used but it is not easy to find outside of Italy.
Eggs: Beaten eggs help to create the batter on these crispy little sandwiches
Flour: I added salt and pepper to season the flour. You can also add some dried Italian seasoning or other dried spices. I don’t recommend fresh herbs because they can become bitter when frying.
Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs give an amazing crunch to Mozzarella in Carrozza but you can use plain breadcrumbs as well. Save the crusts from your sandwiches to make croutons or more breadcrumbs!
Drying the Mozzarella
It is best to dry your mozzarella before making this recipe. If there is too much liquid in the mozzarella, the cheese can begin to dissolve at high temperatures.
You can do this by blotting well with a paper towel just prior to making your mozzarella in Carrozza. You can also wrap the cheese in a paper towel and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
Oil for Frying
Typically, olive oil is used for frying mozzarella in Carrozza. This lends a distinct flavor to the sandwiches. Be careful to keep the oil temperature around 350F. This is the perfect temperature for frying as it is below the smoke point of olive oil, which is between 375F to 405F.
If you don’t have olive oil, you can use any vegetable oil.
What to serve with Mozzarella in Carrozza
These Italian Grilled Cheese sandwiches are incredible on their own as a snack or appetizer. In Italy, they are popular street food and it’s easy to see why!
I have chosen to serve these sandwiches with my Homemade Tomato Soup. You can also dip these little beauties in marinara sauce, with or without meat.
Other Recipes to Try!
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Mozzarella en Carrozza Recipe | Italian Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 125 grams 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 12 slices of white bread crusts removed
- 6 slices of fresh mozzarella
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs Panko makes them extra crispy!
- 1/3 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, beat the eggs. In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs.
- Remove the crusts from your bread slices. Place a piece of mozzarella in the center and cover with another slice of bread. Pinch the edges together to seal the cheese inside.
- Dip the sandwich in the flour mixture, coating all over. Then dip in the beaten eggs on both sides. Last, dip the sandwich in the breadcrumbs, turning to coat well on both sides. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.
- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet until it is about 350F – if you drip water into the oil, it should sizzle. Place the sandwiches in the oil and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. You may have to fry in batches if your pan isn’t big enough for all of them.
- Remove from the oil and place on a plate lined with a paper towel. Serve with marinara or tomato soup for dipping.
Cool video, perfect song, and yeah TO THE CHEESE PULL!!!!!
Thanks! These went fast around here!
Thanks! These went fast around here!