Ok, so that's a mouthful of a title, but it basically means... breaded, fried beef steak.
Milanesa is very popular in Latin American countries, especially in Argentina. Growing up in Puerto Rico my mom used to make Milanesa, and we kids LOVED it! Chicken fried steak, contrary to its ame is made with beef but is similar, eaten in southern US and usually topped with gravy. And schnitzel is the German version of fried steak, although the traditional form is with veal.These all slightly vary in their preparation, but I found my favorite is the simpler one, without breadcrumbs and just using flour and eggs, (mainly because I don't always have breadcrumbs in the pantry and it's just as yummy!) Enjoy!
Ingredients:
*6 (4-ounce) cube steaks (these are mechanically tenderized round steaks)
Kosher salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
**Avocado or Grapeseed oil, for frying
2 lemons (optional)
Directions:
Season steaks lightly with salt and place on a large rimmed baking sheet.
In a wide, shallow dish or pie pan, whisk together the flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. In a second wide shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk. Working with one steak at a time, dredge the steak in the flour, pressing the mixture into the steak and then shaking off the excess. Dip the steak in the egg mixture, turning to coat and then letting the excess drip back into the dish. Finally, dredge in the flour a second time, pressing it into the steak and gently shaking off the excess. Return the steak to the baking sheet and repeat to coat all steaks.
Fill a large heavy frying pan with enough oil to reach 1/4 to 1/2 inch up the side. Place the pan over medium-high heat and warm the oil until hot but not smoking. In batches, fry the steaks, turning once, until the outsides are a crisp golden brown and the meat is just cooked through, about 4 minutes total.
Optional: cut your lemons in wedges and squeeze over the steaks. You can also prepare your favorite simple gravy, or as our daughters like it, dip your steak in ketchup! :)
*Note: We discovered cube steaks late in our beef farming venture, but boy has it been a game changer! I never knew what to do or how to properly cook round steaks as they tend to be tough. Cube steaks are already mechanically tenderized so they are easy to cook quick in a frying pan or grill, they have great flavor, and are a VERY economical steak!
**Note 2: I am all about healthy eating, but I am also about moderation. Frying every once in a blue moon is OK in my book. However, I'm not a fan of canola oil (which tends to be GMO) or "vegetable" oil (which is really soy or corn oil- also most likely GMO and we get too much corn and soy in our diets already!) So I invest in slightly more expensive avocado or grapeseed oil and use it for when we do fry or for high heat oven cooking.
FAQs
While the ingredients may differ, the core recipe is essentially the same as chicken fried steak. Schnitzel even shares the trait of being frequently topped with sauces like mushroom gravy, the same way chicken fried steak is covered with cream gravy.
What is the difference between milanesa and chicken fried steak? ›
One primary difference lies in the type of steak cuts used. Chicken fried steak, a Texas staple, usually employs cube steak — a tenderized top sirloin or top round that's been flattened to resemble cubes. In contrast, traditional Italian steak milanesa initially used beef tenderloin.
Is milanesa the same as schnitzel? ›
The milanesa is a variation of the Lombard veal Milanese, or the Austrian Wiener schnitzel, where generic types of breaded cutlet preparations are known as a milanesa. The milanesa was brought to the Southern Cone by Italian immigrants between 1860 and the 1920s.
What's the difference between schnitzel and fried chicken? ›
Chicken schnitzel is, quite simply, crispy fried chicken breasts. Schnitzel is Austrian in origin and traditionally made with veal (known as wiener schnitzel) or pork. Likewise, it has also been a popular dish in Germany for centuries. Fried schnitzel later found its way to Israel with European Jews.
What is schnitzel called in America? ›
United States
Chicken fried steak, also called country fried steak, is nearly identical to schnitzel. It is a breaded and deep fried beef steak.
What cut of meat is a schnitzel? ›
What kind of meat is used for Schnitzel? Schnitzel can, of course, be made from almost any thin, boneless meat cut. However, traditionally, Wienerschnitzel is made using only veal, and German Schnitzel is made with boneless pork chops. You can also try using chicken, mutton, beef, or turkey.
What is milanesa steak called? ›
Milanesa steak is Milanesa de Res and it's a treat any day of the week. This is a crispy classic. Thin sliced round steak is tenderized, coated in bread crumb and fried.
What's the difference between chicken schnitzel and Milanese? ›
Or in Jersey Shore parlance, “chicken cutlets.” To be fair these are not synonymous but rather “related” dishes. All three consist of breaded and fried chicken but the Milanese usually has parmesan in the mix while schnitzels are traditionally made with veal.
What is milanesa in English? ›
Noun. milanesa f (plural milanesas) a thin slice of beef, dipped into beaten eggs, seasoned with salt and other condiments (like parsley and garlic), dipped in breadcrumbs and shallow-fried in oil.
What are the two types of schnitzel? ›
The dish's name actually comes from the German word schnitt, which translates to "cut." The most popular type of meat for schnitzel is veal (wiener-schnitzel) or pork (schweine-schnitzel), but you also see varieties made with chicken (hänchen-schnitzel), or turkey (puten-schnitzel).
The main difference between country-fried steak and chicken-fried steak is the gravy. Country-fried steak is slathered in brown gravy, whereas chicken-fried steak uses a white, peppery gravy. However, this distinction is not entirely set in stone as different restaurants will serve both with the same gravy.
Do Germans eat chicken schnitzel? ›
This chicken schnitzel recipe is a traditional German dish that is pounded thin and is coated with breadcrumbs and then lightly fried.
What is another name for chicken-fried steak? ›
Chicken-fried steak, also known as country-fried steak, is an American breaded cutlet dish consisting of a piece of beefsteak (most often tenderized cube steak) coated with seasoned flour and either deep-fried or pan-fried. It is sometimes associated with the Southern cuisine of the United States.
What's the difference between chicken-fried steak and fried steak? ›
The main difference between country-fried steak and chicken-fried steak is the gravy. Country-fried steak is slathered in brown gravy, whereas chicken-fried steak uses a white, peppery gravy. However, this distinction is not entirely set in stone as different restaurants will serve both with the same gravy.
What is slang for chicken schnitzel? ›
What's Great About It: Schnitty is Australian slang for schnitzel – thinly sliced meat that has been crumbed and fried. This Australian classic can be found on almost every pub menu across the country.
What cut of meat is chicken-fried steak made from? ›
Chicken fried steak is made most often with cube steak, or steak that has already been tenderized, or a cheap cut like round steak. It was originally created to make a cheap cut of meat taste better. No matter which cut you use, you have to pound it thin with a meat mallet.
