Crab Rangoon Mozzarella Sticks
Description
These party-ready appetizers are a mashup of gooey breaded mozzarella sticks and deep-fried crispy crab rangoons.
Ingredients
•
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
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1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
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1 (8 ounce) package imitation crabmeat, chopped
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1/4 cup sliced green onions
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1 tablespoon powdered sugar
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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2 large eggs
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2 tablespoons water
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1 3/4 cups panko bread crumbs
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2 cups vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
Directions
1
Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper so the paper hangs over the sides of the pan.
2
Stir together cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, crabmeat, green onions, powdered sugar, salt, and garlic powder in a bowl until combined. Transfer to the prepared pan, spreading to an even layer. Freeze for 30 minutes.
3
Lift cream cheese mixture from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut the frozen block in half, then cut each half crosswise into 8 sticks (you will have sixteen 4x1-inch sticks.)
4
Put flour in a shallow dish. Beat eggs and water together in a second shallow dish. Put panko in a third shallow dish.
5
Dredge each cream cheese stick in flour; shake off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then lift up so excess egg drips back into the bowl. Press into panko to coat both sides. Place the breaded sticks on a baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
6
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
7
Add 1 ½ inches of oil to a medium saucepan. Heat oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
8
Fry 3 or 4 sticks at a time until golden brown, about 1 minute. (Keep uncooked sticks in freezer until ready to fry.)
9
Drain fried sticks on paper towels, then transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the preheated oven. Repeat to fry remaining sticks.