Mozzarella in “Carriages” is the English translation for these incredibly delicious appetizers that can be found on the menus of most Italian restaurants here in the U.S. In the restaurant you’ll typically pay somewhere between seven and nine dollars for a serving of these, but luckily you and I can make them for under a buck-and-a-quarter per serving at home.
Fresh mozzarella works really well in these but the regular packaged mozzarella will do just fine and is usually much less expensive. I would, however, recommend that you use whole milk mozzarella, not the part skim variety, as the whole milk melts nicer and tastes better. If you’re trying to watch your fat intake, worry about it in some other recipe, not this one.
Need This
8 slices of white bread
4 eggs
1 – 8 ounce package of whole milk mozzarella
Garlic powder
Dried thyme leaves
Olive oil
Seasoned bread crumbs
Salt and ground black pepper
Don Pepino pizza sauce
Do This
Leave the mozzarella out at room temperature for about an hour before making the carriages so that it melts easier.
Cut the crusts off of the bread slices. Toss the crusts outside for the birds, squirrels, rats, or whatever other winged or 4 legged critter you have running around out there.
Crack the four eggs into a shallow bowl. Add a little salt and pepper to them and beat or whisk until well blended.
Lay two slices of bread down side-by-side on a plate. Brush the tops of the bread slices with the egg mixture. Add two slices of mozzarella (each about 1/8 inch thick) on one of the bread slices. Shake some garlic powder over the cheese and drop on a good pinch of thyme. Top with the other slice (egged side down).
Now brush the top and sides with the egg mixture, then flip it over and do the bottom. Dredge the egged bread through the breadcrumbs (both sides) and set aside on a clean plate. Gently press down around the edges to crimp the carriage closed.
Assemble the other 3 carriages the same way.
Pour a good glug of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan and put a medium heat under it. When the oil starts to shimmer, drop in two of the carriages and fry on medium heat, turning once, until both sides are a nice golden color. Fry up the other 2 carriages the same way.
Just before serving, heat each carriage in the microwave on high for about 30 seconds.
Serve warm with hot Don Pepino pizza sauce on the side for dipping.
Serves 4. My cost approx. $ 4.80 total – about $ 1.20 per serving