Pork Veal Or Chicken Schnitzel Recipes

PORK, VEAL, OR CHICKEN SCHNITZEL

Steps:

• also requires: 2 large pieces of wax paper for each breast used 1 large baking pan or cooky sheet in a 200-250 degree oven for keeping meat hot while cooking successive pieces.
• 1 piece of paper towel to put between layers of meat in the low hot oven to keep pieces from sticking together.
• Place a piece of breast in between 2 large pieces of wax paper.
• Using the smooth side of a meat tenderizer, pound until very thin.
• (Turn over so that you can pound on both sides of the meat.) The breast will become very large and you will actually be able to get at least 2 large servings from each breast.
• After pounding each piece of meat, place on a large serving plate without removing the wax paper and chill well in the refrigerator.
• When ready to cook do the following-- Place the eggs in a glass pie pan with the water, salt, and pepper and mix well.
• Place the flour in another container next to the seasoned eggs.
• Place the bread crumbs in another container on the other side of the seasoned eggs.
• Start heating up the cooking oil in a large frying pan on medium high heat.
• DO NOT get oil too hot-- but hot enough so that it will cook the meat quickly without burning either the meat or the oil.
• After removing the wax paper from each side of the meat, dip each piece of meat in the eggs, then the flour, then the eggs again, then the breadcrumbs.
• Fry until golden brown on each side.
• Place each piece of cooked meat in the oven using paper towel pieces to separate the pieces from each other.
• When finished cooking serve with slices or wedges of fresh lemon.
• NOTE** This meat dish is traditionally served with either pomme frits (french fries) or home fried potatoes and salad.
• I find it is good with most side dishes.
• It is such a favorite in our home that family members fight over the leftover pieces eating them cold right from the refrigerator.

SCHNITZEL

Steps:

• With a chef's knife, cut the bread (including the crusts) into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes and spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Set them out overnight until completely dry. Alternatively, place the baking sheet in a 200-degree oven until the bread is completely dry but not browned at all, turning and stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Transfer dried bread to a mini chopper or food processor, and process until as fine as possible, about 1 minute.
• Transfer bread crumbs to a fine-mesh strainer set over a large bowl. Sift the fine crumbs into the bowl, leaving behind coarser crumbs. Discard the coarse crumbs, or process and sift again. (You can repeat this several times, but there are diminishing returns.)
• Working one at a time, place a cutlet between two sheets of parchment paper or in a heavy-duty zip-top bag. Pound with a flat mallet or the bottom of a skillet or saucepan, aiming at the thickest parts with the heel of the pan. The goal is to stretch the pork cutlets to about four times their original surface area (twice as wide, twice as long) with about 1/8-inch thickness. Do not pound so aggressively that the meat tears or frays. Transfer to a large plate or tray, season lightly with salt and pepper, and repeat with remaining cutlets.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 225 degrees. Set up a breading station next to the stove with four rimmed baking sheets or dishes large enough to fit one cutlet with plenty of space around it. Leave the one farthest from the stove empty, add flour to the second, beaten eggs to the third, and the bread crumbs to the one closest to the stove. (It will seem like too many bread crumbs, and that is OK.)
• Add the vodka to a small bowl. Nearby, have a pastry brush, a clean kitchen towel, a timer, a large fork or thin slotted spatula, a large plate lined with paper towels, extra paper towels, a cooling rack set in a rimmed sheet pan, a fine-mesh fat skimmer in a small saucepan or heatproof bowl, and an instant-read thermometer.
• When ready to cook, heat the lard in a large wok, Dutch oven or deep, steep-walled sauté pan over medium-high until it registers 375 to 400 degrees on the instant-read thermometer. Adjust flame to maintain that temperature throughout the cooking process.
• Working one at a time, place a cutlet in the empty rimmed baking sheet. Brush the meat with vodka, completely covering both sides with a thin layer. Immediately transfer the cutlet to the flour. Gently shake the baking sheet. Then, using your fingertips, pick up the cutlet from one edge and flip it over. Shake the baking sheet again to coat the second side with flour. Pick up the cutlet with your fingertips, shake gently to knock off excess flour, then inspect to ensure that there is a thin, even layer of flour across the whole cutlet. If necessary, re-dredge it to cover up any un-floured spots, but be careful not to fold the cutlet, which can cause the flour to bunch.
• Lay the cutlet onto the eggs. Shake the baking sheet gently. Using your fingertips, pick up the cutlet from one edge and flip it over. Pick up the cutlet with your fingertips, allowing excess egg to drain for a few seconds, then inspect to ensure that the cutlet is thoroughly coated. If necessary, dip the cutlet back into the egg to cover any dry spots.
• Transfer the cutlet to the bread crumbs. Using your fingers, scoop crumbs from around the cutlet and pile them on top, completely covering the cutlet. Do not press on the crumbs or cutlet at any point. Shake the baking sheet for a few seconds. Then, using your fingertips, pick up the cutlet from one edge, flip it, and return it to the bread crumbs. Shake the baking sheet, then pick up the cutlet with your fingertips and gently shake off excess crumbs, being careful not to fold or crease the cutlet.
• Carefully lay the cutlet onto the hot fat, starting near you and draping it away from you to avoid accidentally splashing yourself with hot oil. As fast as you can, wipe your fingers clean on the kitchen towel. Then, start swirling the pan, allowing the fat to splash over and around the cutlet for exactly 30 seconds. Using the fork or a thin, slotted spatula, pick up the cutlet from one edge and carefully flip it, being careful not to splash hot fat. Continue to cook, swirling. The cutlet should start to puff and inflate. Keep cooking while swirling until the cutlet is golden brown and crisp, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
• Using the fork or slotted spatula, pick up the cutlet from one edge and transfer to the paper towel-lined plate. Blot the top very gently with an extra paper towel, then transfer to the rack on the rimmed baking sheet and transfer to the oven to keep warm. Use the fine-mesh strainer to skim off the foam and remove as many stray bread crumbs from the fat as possible.
• Reheat the fat to 375 to 400 degrees and repeat Steps 7 to 11 for the remaining cutlets.
• Serve cutlets immediately with lemon wedges, lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce.

CHICKEN, VEAL, OR PORK SCHNITZEL WITH RED CARAWAY CABBAGE

Steps:

• If using chicken, butterfly each chicken breast and place between wax paper. For pork, place chops several inches apart between wax paper. For veal, if you have large, thin-cut pieces from the butcher, use as is. If the veal is more than 1/4 inch thick, place it between wax paper. Pound the meat until very thin using a small heavy skillet or mallet.
• Season the meat with salt and pepper and dust in flour. Beat the eggs and milk or cream in a large shallow dish. Combine the bread crumbs with the nutmeg and more salt and pepper and place on a large plate. Coat the meat in egg, then in crumbs. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat with just enough oil in it to thinly coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil gets wavy looking, add the meat in a single layer and cook until golden on each side, 3 minutes each. Transfer the meat to a plate and repeat, if necessary. Reserve the cooked schnitzel under a loose foil tent.
• Meanwhile, heat a second, deep, large nonstick skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add about 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil or light olive oil (twice around the pan). Add the onions, apples, and cabbage. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and the caraway seeds. Toss and sear the mixture for 5 minutes, then add the vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire and toss to coat and combine the cabbage evenly. Reduce the heat a bit and keep the cabbage going until the meat is all cooked.
• Serve the schnitzels with the lemon wedges and a pile of seared red cabbage with caraway alongside.