Fry This Now: Deep-Fried Burrata

burrata Hail Mary's deep-fried burrata is the kind of appetizer we see in our cheese dreams. (Photo: Evan Su
Ham and Sohla El Waylly•

Ham and Sohla El Waylly are the 30-year-old chef-owners of Hail Mary, a New American–style diner in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. One look at their menu says it all (and yes, of course breakfast is served all day). The two chefs have a wealth of popular restaurants on their résumés and are putting their skills and creativity towardsreinterpreting classic concepts at Hail Mary. Ham, who grew up in Doha, Qatar, with his Egyptian father and Bolivian mother, and Sohla, who is a first-generation American born to Bengali parents, use their diverse roots to inspire several of their menu items. This deep-fried burrata is neither here nor there — the important thing is that it's smothered in fresh tomato sauce and heading to a table near you!

Fry This Now: Deep-Fried Burrata
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Prep Time
25
minutes
Cook Time
30
minutes
Servings
1
burrata
Total time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
  • At least a 2 1/2 ounce ball burrata
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup Progresso breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon chili flakes (or more if more burn is desired)
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 quart canned, peeled tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Directions
  1. :::marinara:::
  2. Place the olive oil in a wide pan and heat until it shimmers.
  3. Add the garlic and keep swirling the pan until the edges of the garlic start to brown.
  4. Immediately add the red chili flakes and count to 3.5.
  5. Add the tomatoes all at once (beware of sputtering) and stir to incorporate all the ingredients. Let the mixture simmer until thickened, and when you move a spoon across the bottom of the pan, the sauce stays split as if you had the power of Moses.
  6. Add the parsley and butter and stir to incorporate.
  7. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. :::burrata:::
  9. Whisk the egg and milk together and pour into a bowl.
  10. Place the all-purpose flour in a separate bowl and the breadcrumbs in another separate bowl.
  11. Line the bowls up in the following order from left to right: flour, egg/milk mixture, breadcrumbs.
  12. The key is maintaining one dry hand and one wet hand. Using your dry hand, place the burrata in the flour and dredge thoroughly; shake off excess. Using the same hand, gently place it in the egg mixture. With your (soon-to-be) wet hand, submerge the burrata fully and ensure that the entire ball is moistened. With the same hand shake off the excess and gently place it in the breadcrumbs. With your dry hand, roll the burrata until fully engulfed in breadcrumbs. Place on a tray lined with paper towels. Repeat with as much burrata as needed to satisfy.
  13. When ready to fry, gently lower the burrata in the oil and fry until golden brown. There should be signs of whey seepage. Lay on a tray lined with paper towels and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
  14. :::dish:::
  15. Place the sauce at the bottom of your receptacle of choice.
  16. Burrata goes on top.
  17. Bask.
 
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