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Big, thinly pounded pork cutlets provide a more accessible take on classic Viennese schnitzel—the perfect meal to raise a beer to.
By
Michael Harlan Turkell
Michael Harlan Turkell
Michael Harlan Turkell is a once-aspiring chef and now an award-winning food photographer and writer. He has photographed many prominent chefs’ cookbooks, co-authored a few, and even wrote one of his own: ACID TRIP: Travels in the Word of Vinegar (2017).
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Updated September 15, 2023
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Why It Works
- Using pork instead of the traditional veal makes this dish more accessible for most cooks and allows you to choose from a greater range of quality and cuts.
- Frying one cutlet at a time ensures more even cooking and browning.
For hearty, down-to-earth fare to enjoy between sips of beer, you can't do much better than schnitzel, a breaded and fried cutlet that's traditionally big enough to overhang the sides of a plate. Though classic Viennese schnitzel is made with thinly pounded veal, pork is more accessible for most of us in the US, and just as tasty.
To balance out the richness of the fried pork, we recommend a helping of bright coleslaw with creamy chile vinaigrette and a hop-heavy brew, such as Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Great Divide Titan IPA, or Cigar City Jai Alai, on the side.
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Recipe Details
Pork Schnitzel (Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet) Recipe
Prep15 mins
Cook25 mins
Active45 mins
Total40 mins
Serves4 servings
Ingredients
Four (1-inch-thick) boneless pork loin chops (about 8 ounces/225g each)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour(2 1/2 ounces; 70g)
3 large eggs, beaten
2 cups (120g)panko bread crumbs
3 cups (710ml) canola oil
Directions
Working with one pork chop at a time, trim fat and sinew off the chop, then make a cut lengthwise down the middle of one 1-inch-thick edge, about 3/4 of the way through the chop, without cutting it into 2 separate pieces, making a butterfly slice.
Place pork chop between two 12-inch-square pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound pork to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat pounder or the bottom of a heavy 8-inch skillet. Repeat with remaining cutlets. Season pork cutlets with salt and pepper.
Fill a wide, shallow bowl or high-rimmed plate with flour, a second bowl or plate with beaten eggs, and a third bowl or plate with panko.
Working with one cutlet at a time, dredge a cutlet in flour with your left hand, shaking off excess. Transfer to egg dish, then turn pork with your right hand to coat both sides. Lift with your right hand and allow excess egg to drain off, then transfer to bread crumbs. With your left hand, scoop bread crumbs on top of pork, then gently press, turning pork to ensure a good layer of crumbs on both sides. Using your left hand, transfer cutlet to a clean parchment-lined baking sheet, then repeat with remaining cutlets. Be careful not to over-bread the cutlets.
Heat oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and just shy of smoking. Working with one cutlet at a time, gently lower cutlet into hot fat, laying it down away from you to prevent both hot oil from splashing toward you and the cutlet from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. This should also help “waves” develop in the cutlet—the sign of true schnitzel success.
Fry cutlet, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain a steady, vigorous bubble, until bottom side is browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip cutlet and fry until second side is browned and crisp, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet and season lightly with salt. Repeat with remaining cutlets. Serve immediately with coleslaw and a cold beer.
Special Equipment
12-inch cast iron skillet, rimmed baking sheet, cooling rack
Read More
- Breaded Fried Pork Chops
- Tonkatsu or Chicken Katsu (Japanese Breaded Pork or Chicken Cutlets)
- Pork Schnitzel Meatballs
- Pork
- Austrian
- Frying
- Pork Mains
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
817 | Calories |
52g | Fat |
17g | Carbs |
67g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 817 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 52g | 66% |
Saturated Fat 10g | 49% |
Cholesterol 321mg | 107% |
Sodium 661mg | 29% |
Total Carbohydrate 17g | 6% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
Total Sugars 1g | |
Protein 67g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
Calcium 66mg | 5% |
Iron 3mg | 18% |
Potassium 881mg | 19% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)