Eat
Nathan Hutsenpiller is a photographer and writer residing in Queens, NY. He specializes in portrait, street and skateboard photography while also pursuing a career in photojournalism. Some of Nathan's photos have been featured in the upcoming book "Heart" by Lucas Beaufort, celebrating 40 years of skateshop history.
published Feb 21, 2024
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What if I told you there was a snack that was hot and savory on the inside, had the perfect crunchy texture on the outside, and came together in just three easy steps? Well, thanks to accomplished chef and content creator Patrick Zeinali, who recently took to his TikTok page to share his recipe for potato cheese sticks, you can try it for yourself right now. Using only four ingredients, Patrick breaks down the process of making these cheesy, crunchy masterpieces — and take it from me, you’re going to want to eat the whole batch.
Get the recipe: 4-Ingredient Potato Cheese Sticks
How To Make 4-Ingredient Potato Cheese Sticks
The recipe is quite simple. In fact, I took the liberty of making a couple of alterations for my version by adding some crushed black pepper and extra mozzarella cheese. Ultimately, I’m going for record levels of cheese here.
Start by peeling russet potatoes. Chop them up and boil until they are nice and soft. Transfer the potatoes into a mixing bowl and mash until smooth. Add corn starch, shredded mozzarella cheese, and some salt. Using your hands, mix well until everything is combined. This would be a good point to try out different seasonings and ingredients if you’re feeling ambitious and want to take this recipe to the next level.
Next, you’ll fill a zip-lock bag with your potato and cheese mixture and seal it shut. Using a rolling pin, flatten out the mixture inside of the bag, spreading it out evenly. Put in the freezer for about 30 minutes before removing from the bag and slicing into sticks.
Prepare a pot of oil, heated to about 350°F to 365°F. Toss in a freshly cut potato-cheese stick and fry until golden-brown. Personally, I like to fry them just slightly past golden-brown, to ensure a nice crispy exterior as well as a fully cooked interior. Let them dry out on a wire rack before serving with your favorite dipping sauce. I chose marinara, which, to me, paired perfectly.
My Honest Opinion of 4-Ingredient Potato Cheese Sticks
Patrick’s recipe is beyond simple. Four ingredients, broken down into three easy steps, culminating in a delicious snack; perfect to bust out and impress your friends and family at dinner.
I was surprised at how prep took no time at all, and quickly realized that I could double the recipe and have pre-made potato cheese sticks stored in the freezer for other occasions. This recipe stands out from the rest, due to its ability to be a blank canvas for creativity in the kitchen. The possibilities are bountiful, and my tastebuds are salivating. Hats off to Chef Zeinali; I’ll be keeping this one in my tool belt and experimenting each time I need a fix.
4 Tips for Making 4-Ingredient Potato Cheese Sticks
- Get creative. This recipe is super simple, leaving plenty of room for creativity. Try using extra cheese, or your favorite seasonings to elevate the flavors.
- Give it a little extra time in the oil. While frying your cheese sticks, give them a little extra time after turning golden-brown to ensure they are fully cooked throughout. You’re looking for them to have a satisfyingly crispy crunch upon first bite and a soft, cheesy interior.
- Gotta keep ‘em separated. If you are going to fry more than one stick at once, be sure to keep them separated from each other so they don’t stick together. You can let them bump around once they have started to get crispy on the outside.
- Store some for later. Use a freezer-safe bag or container to store your extra uncooked potato cheese sticks and enjoy them again and again.
Get the recipe: 4-Ingredient Potato Cheese Sticks
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: I Tried This Wildly Simple Recipe for 4-Ingredient Potato Cheese Sticks and They’re So Good, I Ate the Full Batch
