Schnitzel is a European food made with veal, pork or chicken. Schnitzel originated in eastern Europe, and developed slowly over time. The schnitzel normally uses veal, but a German version, the Wiener Schnitzel uses pork, and was first made in 1831. In Austria, the Schnitzel would be eaten on important days, such as holidays and festivals. This tradition started in the 1800s. Meanwhile, the schnitzel was being eaten as a comfort food, because it was so easy to  make. Schnitzels became popular in the 19th century in Austria, next in Germany, and then in the US when immigrants brought the recipe with them. Schnitzels made with chicken became popular after WWII. The schnitzel was so popular, a Japanese version was made in 1950: Tonkatsu. In 2020, the schnitzel was listed as one of Austria’s national dishes.

Your recipe:

Ingredients:

• 4 thin slices of veal, pork, or chicken
• 1 cup flour
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper
• Oil or butter for frying

Steps:

• First, pound each meat slice until thin.
• Second, season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Next, coat each slice in flour, then dip in beaten egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
• Then, heat oil or butter in a pan over medium-high.
• After that, fry each schnitzel until golden brown (about 2–3 minutes per side).
• Finally, place on paper towels to drain.

Now, enjoy your schnitzel!

Sources:

SchoolAI. “History of Schnitzel.” SchoolAI Learning Platform, 2024, www.schoolai.com/learning/schnitzel-history