Cheese Sticks 2023

Cheese sticks are a delicious snack or appetizer that the whole family will love. Golden, crispy and filled with melted cheese, these spring rolls are seriously addictive!

Today I made a sweet and sour sauce to share the recipe on the blog, and the whole time I was whisking the sweet and sour liquid to the desired consistency, I was dreaming of salty and crunchy things for dipping. Like, um, lumpiang shanghai.

Unfortunately, the package of ground pork I had in the freezer was solid as a rock and I was too eager for a quick fix than I expected. I rummaged through the fridge for anything remotely close to meat that I could wrap in spring rolls and that was it.

Half a block of blue cheese staring back at me amidst the Tupperware, leftovers, and whatnot. Ahhh, cheese sticks!

How to assemble

1. Cut the block of cheese into long, thin strips about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long.
2. Gently peel each spring roll wrapper to separate. Cover with damp paper or tea towel while assembling to prevent them from drying out.
3. Place the wrapper like a diamond on a flat work surface. Place the cheese lengthwise in the middle of the wrapper and fold the lower end of the wrapper over the cheese.
4. Fold the ends of the side inward and starting at the bottom, roll tightly into a log. Brush the top corner of the package with water and press to close.

Cooking tips

• The recipe calls for Eden cheese, a Filipino brand of processed cheese that has a mild but creamy flavor and melts well. Other types of cheese I like to use are Velveeta, cheddar, gouda, cream cheese or mozzarella sticks.
• For heat, place a chili pepper strip or two on top of the cheese before wrapping (siling haha).
• To minimize leakage of melted cheese, roll the wrappers as tightly as possible. You can also freeze the sliced ​​cheese for about 10 to 15 minutes before assembling and frying.
• Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as peanut, canola, or safflower. Fry at an optimal temperature of 350 F to 375 F. Too hot and the wrappers will burn before the cheese is completely melted. Too low and the spring rolls absorb a lot more fat.
• Do not overcrowd the pan and fry in batches as needed.

Baked method

Deep frying gives the best results, but if you’d like to cut some calories, you can bake spring rolls instead.

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat a baking sheet with vegetable oil.
2. Place the spring rolls in a single layer on the prepared baking dish, seam side down. Brush lightly with vegetable oil or spray with cooking spray.
3. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, turning halfway through, or until evenly browned on both sides and the cheese has melted.
4. Remove from heat and serve with your favorite sauces.

How to store

• Arrange the spring rolls in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for about 1 to 2 hours or until firm. This step will prevent them from sticking together when frozen.
• When hardened, transfer to resealable bags or airtight containers. With proper storage, it will last up to 3 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.
• There is no need to thaw and can be fried frozen, but it takes longer to cook.

Enjoy these cheese sticks as a midday snack or appetizer with sauces like marinara, ranch dressing, BBQ, sweet and sour or plum sauce. They are sure to be a favorite!