Fried Kashkaval 🧀 Balkan Tavern 🇷🇸 (Prženi Kačkavalj)

Name: Fried Kashkaval 🧀 Balkan Tavern 🇷🇸 (Prženi Kačkavalj)
Prep time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Balkan
Ingredients: 🧀 Kashkaval (or other semi-hard cow/sheep cheese), cold, 1–1.5 cm thick slices: 400 g (14.1 oz); 🌾 All-purpose flour: 60 g (½ cup / 2.1 oz); 🥚 Eggs, beaten: 2 large (≈100 g / 3.5 oz); 🍞 Dry breadcrumbs: 120 g (1¼ cups / 4.2 oz); 🌽 Cornstarch (crispier crust, optional): 15 g (2 tbsp / 0.5 oz); 🌶️ Sweet paprika (mix into flour): 2 g (1 tsp / 0.07 oz); 🧂 Salt: to taste (≈2 g / ⅓ tsp); ⚫ Black pepper: 1 g (½ tsp / 0.04 oz); 🫒 Neutral oil for frying (5–6 cm depth): 600 ml (2½ cups / 20 fl oz); 🍋 Lemon wedges, to serve: 4–6 wedges; 🫙 Tartar sauce or ajvar, to serve: as desired

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Appetizers Balkan RichardObradovic Oct 11, 2025 30

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Image for recipe: Fried Kashkaval 🧀 Balkan Tavern 🇷🇸 (Prženi Kačkavalj)

Description

Thick slabs of semi-hard cheese, double-breaded and fried to a shattering crust with a molten, stretchy center. Serve with lemon, tartar, or a spoon of ajvar. 🧄🍋

Hook: Chill, bread, hot oil—golden tavern cheese in under 30 minutes. ⚡

Ingredients

🧀 Kashkaval (or other semi-hard cow/sheep cheese), cold, 1–1.5 cm thick slices: 400 g (14.1 oz)
🌾 All-purpose flour: 60 g (½ cup / 2.1 oz)
🥚 Eggs, beaten: 2 large (≈100 g / 3.5 oz)
🍞 Dry breadcrumbs: 120 g (1¼ cups / 4.2 oz)
🌽 Cornstarch (crispier crust, optional): 15 g (2 tbsp / 0.5 oz)
🌶️ Sweet paprika (mix into flour): 2 g (1 tsp / 0.07 oz)
🧂 Salt: to taste (≈2 g / ⅓ tsp)
⚫ Black pepper: 1 g (½ tsp / 0.04 oz)
🫒 Neutral oil for frying (5–6 cm depth): 600 ml (2½ cups / 20 fl oz)
🍋 Lemon wedges, to serve: 4–6 wedges
🫙 Tartar sauce or ajvar, to serve: as desired

Preparation

1️⃣ Chill cheese: Cut 🧀 into rectangles; freeze 12–15 min to firm—reduces leaks.
2️⃣ Set up dredge: Bowl 1: 🌾 flour + 🌽 cornstarch + 🌶️ paprika + pinch 🧂. Bowl 2: beaten 🥚 eggs. Bowl 3: 🍞 breadcrumbs.
3️⃣ Bread: Pat cheese dry. Coat flour → egg → crumbs, then repeat egg → crumbs for a double coat. Rest 5 min.
4️⃣ Fry: Heat 🫒 oil to 175–180°C / 345–355°F. Fry in batches 60–90 sec/side until deep golden. Don’t overcrowd.
5️⃣ Drain & serve: Transfer to a rack/paper. Season lightly with 🧂. Serve immediately with 🍋 lemon and 🫙 tartar/ajvar.

Total Time

🕒 Prep: 15 min (+ chill 15 min)
🔥 Cook: 8–10 min
⏳ Total: 25–30 min

Nutritional Value

🔋 Energy: ~410 kcal
💪 Protein: ~22 g
🧈 Fat: ~27 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: ~18 g
🧂 Sodium: ~720 mg

Advice

Cold cheese + double breading is the leak-proof combo. Keep oil at 175–180°C—too cool and the crust soaks oil; too hot and it browns before the center melts.

Why it works

A dry, seasoned flour base grips the cheese; egg binds; crumbs form a porous shell that crisps instantly, trapping steam for a stretchy middle without blowouts.

Twist

Sesame breadcrumb mix (2 tbsp) for nutty aroma, or bake at 220°C / 425°F 10–12 min on a lightly oiled tray for a lighter version.

Status

Pub crackle, molten pull—prženi kačkavalj that vanishes faster than you can squeeze the lemon. #grannyzen #balkanappetizer 🧀🍋

Menu

Granny Zen Galaxy Kitchen 🚀