Low FODMAP Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Low Carb, Grain-Free)

Ingredients

• 8 sticks of mozzarella string cheese, cut in half
• 1/3 cup blanched almond flour
• 1/3 cup crushed pork rinds (a.k.a. pork panko*)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Low FODMAP Italian Seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt*
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic-infused olive oil
• Avocado oil cooking spray (or your cooking spray of choice)
• 1/2 cup of Low FODMAP Pizza Sauce (or your preferred dipping sauce)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. 2

   Prepare dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, crushed pork rinds, Italian seasoning, and salt until combined.

3. 3

   Prepare wet ingredients: In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together egg and garlic-infused olive oil until combined.

4. 4

   Bread mozzarella sticks: Designate your left hand as your “egg bowl hand” and your right hand as your “breading bowl hand.” Using your “egg bowl hand,” dredge a piece of mozzarella in egg. Once coated, lift the stick and allow as much excess egg to drip back into the bowl as possible. Then, drop the coated stick into the breading bowl, and using your “breading bowl hand,” bury the stick in breading until lightly coated, lifting it up and shaking off the excess breading. Drop the stick back into the egg bowl, using your “egg bowl hand” to dredge it again in egg. Drop it back into the breading bowl, using your “breading bowl hand” to bury it in breading until coated, ensuring there are no bare spots. Place breaded mozzarella stick on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the mozzarella sticks are breaded.

5. 5

   Freeze: Place baking sheet in the freezer and freeze a minimum of two hours. Optional: transfer frozen sticks to a large, zip top freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

6. 6

   Prepare dipping sauce (optional): if using it for dipping, about a half hour prior to cooking the mozzarella sticks (while they're still freezing), prepare my Low FODMAP Pizza Sauce. You will only need up to half of it for these mozzarella sticks, so save the other half for a future batch mozzarella sticks or to make my Low FODMAP Keto "Meatza" (Pizza with a Meat Crust).

7. 7

   Air fry: Once ready to cook, if your air fryer doesn’t have an internal preheat function, preheat air fryer for 10 minutes at 400°F. If using an Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10-quart Air Fryer (what I use), place the drip tray in the bottom of the air fryer and close the door. Hit the “Air Fry” button, set the temperature to 400°F, the timer to 4 minutes, and press "Start." The Vortex will start preheating. During the preheat, place the mozzarella sticks on one of the cooking trays so they are not touching and spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.

8. 8

   Once prompted to “Add food,” set the tray with the mozzarella sticks on the center rung and close the door. Air fry for 4 minutes,* gently flipping with tongs and lightly spraying the other side with cooking spray once prompted to “Turn Food” or simply halfway through the cooking time. Remove promptly from the air fryer.

9. 9

   Serve mozzarella sticks immediately, on their own or dipped in my homemade Low FODMAP Pizza Sauce. So good!

10. 10

    Store: I suggest only cooking as many mozzarella sticks as you plan to consume as they do not keep well or reheat easily. Store precooked mozzarella sticks frozen in a zip top freezer bag for up to 3 months.