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Classic Veal Wiener Schnitzel

A good Wiener Schnitzel is typified by its simplicity, bashed out veal cutlet coated in a golden crumb and then fried until golden!

Portrait overhead image of a classic breaded veal Wiener schnitzel served with a classic green salad and lemon wedges on a white plate

The Classic Viennese Schnitzel?

There are all sorts of “modern” ideas floating around about how to cook this classic recipe. To be honest none of them stand up to a good old pan of fat as far as I am concerned.

This is a recipe that is very easy to get right but even easier to make a real mess out of.

It is a dish of techniques, simple techniques but if you get any of them wrong then your dinner will be disappointing.

The first choice you have to make is the meat, for me that means veal!  

There are many that struggle with the idea of eating veal, I do not if it is sourced responsibly.

I will not re-hash my thoughts on veal, I cover them comprehensively in my veal burger recipe.

You can use pork although I am always disappointed every time I order a Wiener schnitzel and it ends up being pork… And I am a pork lover!

Portrait image of a lemon wedge being squeezed over a classic breaded veal Wiener schnitzel served with a classic green salad on a white plate

How to Choose and Prepare the Meat.

For this recipe you want a nice piece of loin, or even better fillet of veal.

The same goes for pork if you are subbing it out, you want something lean and tender.

Slice the meat across the grain so that it is around 2.5-3cm thick.

Sandwich these cutlets between two pieces of cling film and let out that tension.

Beat the snot out of it with a rolling pin until it is around 5mm thick!

All you need to do then is season well with salt and pepper before dipping into flour, egg and breadcrumbs, just like my chicken Kyiv, tonkatsu, kotlet schabowy or air fryer chicken cordon bleu recipes.

Portrait image of a classic breaded veal Wiener schnitzel served with a classic green salad on a white plate

What Oil or Fat to Use?

The next choice you have to make is your cooking oil. I personally prefer good quality lard, or shortening for my US readers.

Here in Hungary that is easy to lay your hands on, elsewhere that may be more of a challenge. In that case, I would choose clarified butter!

The next thing you need is enough of it, you need the cutlet to “swim” in the fat. That means 2-3cm of oil, don’t worry it can be reused. 

Your oil needs to be around 165°C or 330°F, any lower your schnitzel will be greasy!

Cooking at too high a temperature will burn the coating before the veal is cooked.

Then it is a case of cooking, 3 minutes a side does nicely.

But batch cook your cutlets being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Most importantly let the fat come back to temperature before cooking a subsequent batch!

Finally, what do you serve with your Schnitzel?

Traditionally it would be served with a salad and wedge of lemon, I have added my favourite take on this.

Today it is often served with fries, I find that too dry but a nice potato salad would work well.

Square image of a classic breaded veal Wiener schnitzel served with a classic green salad on a white plate
Yield: 2 Servings

Wiener Schnitzel Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

This classic Veal Wiener Schnitzel features a bashed out veal cutlet and is coated in breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown... Just the way it should be!

Ingredients

For the Cutlet:

  • 400 g (14 oz) Veal Cutlets
  • 4 Tbsp flour
  • 2 Eggs
  • 50 g (1.75 oz) Breadcrumbs
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Lard or Clarified Butter for frying
  • 1 Lemon

For the Salad:

  • 6 Crunchy Lettuce Leaves
  • 1/2 Cucumber
  • 1 Shallot
  • 1 Tsp Sugar
  • 3 Tsp White Wine Vinegar
  • Pinch of Salt

Instructions

  1. Begin by cutting the veal against the grain into slices 2.5cm to 3cm thick.
  2. Sandwich between two pieces of cling film and beat until 5mm thick with a rolling pin and set aside.
  3. Thinly slice the cucumber and the shallot for the salad as finely as you can.
  4. Mix together the sugar, vinegar and salt for the salad until the sugar and salt completely dissolves.
  5. Melt the lard or clarified butter and heat to 165°C or 330°F.
  6. Whilst the fat is melting season the veal with salt and pepper.
  7. The dip into the flour, followed by the egg and finally into the breadcrumbs.*
  8. Just before you begin frying add the shallot and cucumber to the vinegar and mix.
  9. Now fry the schnitzel for 3 minutes a side, flipping with a spatula taking care not to pierce the breadcrumbs.
  10. Make sure you do not overcrowd the pan and transfer cooked cutlets to a warm oven to keep warm.
  11. Finally, toss the lettuce in with the cucumber and plate with some lemon wedges,

Notes

*Do not double dip the cutlet and do not press the breadcrumbs into the cutlet.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1090Total Fat: 59gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 406mgSodium: 1181mgCarbohydrates: 89gFiber: 7gSugar: 10gProtein: 48g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Laura

Sunday 13th of October 2019

I agree - this is one of those recipes that you either nail or fail. It's also one of those dishes that is never to late to master because everyone usually loves it. Great tips on choosing the cooking oil.

Brian Jones

Sunday 13th of October 2019

Thanks Laura

Alexis

Thursday 10th of October 2019

This dish is delicious! It's simple to make and always comes out perfect. Thanks for sharing.

Brian Jones

Sunday 13th of October 2019

Glad you like it Alexis

Beth Neels

Wednesday 9th of October 2019

Just like my Oma used to make! We Germans love a good Schnitzel, as well! This is very classic schnitzel. I served it with potato salad and your fresh salad and it was delicious!

Brian Jones

Thursday 10th of October 2019

Thanks Beth!

Immaculate Ruému

Friday 4th of October 2019

I always have conversations with my friend from Vienna about food. She loves schnitzel so much and I think I might surprise her with it using your recipe!

Brian Jones

Monday 7th of October 2019

That would be super, I hope she enjoys my Hungarian spin on an Austrian classic :)

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