Fried Mozzarella Stuffed With Prosciutto

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 12 ounces provolone cheese
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 5 prosciutto, thinly sliced, halved crosswise
• 10 basil leaves
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 (5 ounce) package panko breadcrumbs (japanese dried breadcrumbs)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, clarified

Recipe

• 1 cut smoked cheese into 15, 1/4"-thick slices.
• 2 rub with garlic. sprinkle some pine nuts over one cheese slice; press to adhere.
• 3 cover with one prosciutto slice, trimming to fit.
• 4 top with basil leaf.
• 5 cover with second cheese slice, pine nuts, prosciutto and basil leaf.
• 6 cover with third cheese slice, forming sandwich.
• 7 repeat with remaining cheese, pine nuts, prosciutto and basil, making four more sandwiches. set aside.
• 8 place flour in medium bowl.
• 9 add eggs and whisk until smooth.
• 10 strain through fine sieve to remove any lumps.
• 11 dip one sandwich in batter, allowing excess to drip off.
• 12 dredge in breadcrumbs, pressing to coat completely.
• 13 repeat with remaining sandwiches, batter and breadcrumbs.
• 14 (can be prepared three hours ahead; chill.).
• 15 preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit.
• 16 melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat.
• 17 add sandwiches and cook until golden brown, about three minutes per side.
• 18 transfer to heavy baking sheet.
• 19 bake until cheese softens, about five minutes.
• 20 transfer sandwiches to plates.
• 21 serve immediately.