Cottage Cheese Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients:
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup Good Culture Organic 4% Cottage Cheese
⅔ cup breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 eggs, whisked
6 tablespoons avocado oil
Directions:
Prepare the Mozzarella Mixture:
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 cup cottage cheese until well mixed.
Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the cheese mixture into small logs (about 3 inches long) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Freeze the logs for 30 minutes to firm up.
Prepare the Coatings:
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
In one shallow bowl, whisk the eggs.
In another shallow bowl, combine ⅔ cup breadcrumbs, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
Coat the Mozzarella Sticks:
Remove the frozen mozzarella logs from the freezer. Dip each log into the egg wash, then coat it in the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat this process one more time to ensure a thick coating.
Shallow Fry the Mozzarella Sticks:
Heat about ¼ cup avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. The oil is ready when it shimmers.
Add coated mozzarella sticks to the hot oil (don’t overcrowd the pan, you can cook in batches). Cook in the hot oil for 20-30 seconds on each side, until golden brown.
Use tongs to transfer the sticks to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
If you need to cook in batches, add 2 tablespoons additional avocado oil to the pan and pan fry the remaining mozzarella sticks.
Melt the Cheese:
Transfer the fried mozzarella sticks to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Cool and Serve:
Let the mozzarella sticks cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!