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Schnitzel is a piece of breaded meat. It is an integral part of Austrian and, in particular, German cuisine, where it is called “Viennese schnitzel”. You can prepare a traditional dish from veal, pork, and lamb.
The main thing to remember is that schnitzel won’t become a full-fledged treat without a suitable side dish.
So, let’s learn how to choose the best options.
Is schnitzel a main course?
Most chefs don’t consider schnitzel a main course. You have to choose the right side dish for it to get a hearty meal. A piece of meat served separately is more of an appetizer or an addition to a salad.
However, according to the total amount of calories, schnitzel will be able to replace the first and second course at once.
So, it is quite a difficult task to make a balanced main course out of schnitzel.
Easy pork schnitzel recipe
Golden crust, appetizing appearance, great flavor – it’s all pork schnitzel. Before choosing how to complete meal – find out all the secrets of cooking such a delicious dish. To start, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- pork – 700 grams
- chicken eggs – 2 pieces
- breadcrumbs
- wheat flour
- paprika, ground black pepper, salt – to taste
- sunflower oil – 150 ml
- lemon slices – to taste
- parmesan cheese (or grated cheese) – for serving
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Cut the meat layer into chunks. Their width should be no more than 1.5 centimeters.
- Lightly beat off each piece on both sides.
- Pour flour into a plate and add spices and salt there. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Put breadcrumbs in the third container.
- Pour oil into a frying pan and put it to warm up over medium heat.
- As soon as the pan warms up, it’s time to cook schnitzel. To do this, roll the meat on both sides in order: flour, egg and breadcrumbs.
- Fry the pork on each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
Serve immediately with a classic German side dish! And which side dish is best suited, let’s figure out.
German potato salad
As the most suitable side dish, you can consider a German potato salad. According to history, “schnitzel” is a native German word.
It was the chefs in Germany who came up with the idea of serving potato salad with meat instead of the usual mashed potatoes. You can easily prepare this fresh side dish for schnitzel.
To begin with, boil the potatoes, then cut them into small pieces. Mix the product with mayonnaise or sour, add salt and pepper.
You can also add red onion, cucumber or beans to taste. Don’t forget to mix everything well.
Sweet and sour red cabbage
Meat and cabbage are one of the best combinations in the culinary world. To make the perfect side dish for schnitzel, consider sweet and sour red cabbage.
The main feature of such an addition is a multifaceted taste. To make the perfect red cabbage, add grated apple, vinegar, and cloves to it.
Southern coleslaw
Coleslaw is the main trend of the last few years. This is a light salad with the addition of cabbage, onions, carrots and other vegetables.
Perhaps this is a great side dish for those who want to add flavor to schnitzel instead of extra calories. Pay special attention to the recipe of the southern coleslaw. To do this one you will need green cabbage, carrots, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar.
Creamed spinach
Creamed spinach is a very satisfying side dish that is perfect for schnitzel. It will turn out juicy, tender, and most importantly – easy to prepare.
Wash the leaves thoroughly before use, sort, cut, tear with your hands or use them entirely. Next, just fry the spinach over low heat without butter in cream.
Cucumber salad
As you may have noticed, vegetable side dishes can best complement meat schnitzel. This is an unspoken rule – fatty foods are best combined with light snacks.
One of the available options will be german cucumber salad. The recipe is simple: peel cucumbers and cut them into thin slices. Mix with vegetable oil and dill. You can also add a piece of toasted baguette to taste.
Baked beans and rice
Let’s return to the heavier, but classic side dishes – rice and beans. You can cook them separately, and also try to combine them and get an unusual Asian side dish for schnitzel.
Canned or boiled beans are suitable as ingredients. You can also add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or your favorite spices to taste.
The main thing is not to forget to add beans 20 minutes after the start of boiling rice.
Steamed broccoli florets
Steamed broccoli is a healthy side dish that is best suited to chicken schnitzel. You can cook it in a slow cooker, or you can also use a regular microwave for instant cooking.
First, choose a fresh vegetable with a dense leg. Remove all dark and rotten areas to eliminate the bitter taste. Be sure to cut the broccoli into small pieces so that they turn out juicy and tender.
Steam the product for no more than 5-7 minutes to get a perfect crunch.
Red onion rings
Red onion rings are not a side dish for everyone. Its sharp and burning taste will appeal only to real gourmets. In combination with a fairly bland schnitzel, especially chicken one, such a side dish will be the best option.
To prepare, it is important to make a gentle and airy batter.
To do this, carefully study the proportions and do not take too watery onions. This can ruin the consistency of the batter.
Stewed sauerkraut
Stewed sauerkraut is a side dish to which we have been accustomed since childhood. It is present in the menu of any canteens, cafes and even restaurants.
However, there are not so many fans of stewed sauerkraut in its classic version, there are significantly more fans of recipes with additional ingredients: sausages, meat, mushrooms, smoked meats, and chicken.
Sauerkraut stew is good both as a side dish to schnitzel and as a cold appetizer. Sauerkraut stew is one of the cheapest and doesn’t require much effort to prepare dishes.
Sauerkraut can be very sour or salty. For schnitzel, it is better to choose the sour option.
Greek salad
Greek salad is an independent snack, but thanks to its piquant taste and aroma, you can serve it as a side dish for schnitzel. There are many recipes for making this salad and every housewife has her own favorite recipe.
To prepare the classic version, you will need cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, red pepper, feta cheese, olive oil, lettuce salad, olives, as well as salt and pepper.
French fries
French fries are a side dish that each of you has been waiting for. This is a classic snack in fast food restaurants that has spread all over the world.
Do not forget that its main ingredient is potatoes, which are ideally combined with meat dishes. The main secret of cooking is slicing potatoes in large pieces.
Also, don’t forget that it is best to cook French fries in a large amount of vegetable oil for getting a crispy crust.
Roasted asparagus
“Proper” asparagus is an excellent side dish for any meat. For culinary purposes , farmers cultivate asparagus of three varieties: white, green and purple.
Roasted green asparagus is one of the best pork schnitzel side dishes, but you can also serve it alongside. This snack will be a great addition to schnitzel at a dinner party.
There are several advantages: low calorie content, pleasant taste, as well as ease of use.
Vegetables to serve with chicken schnitzel
Any meat goes well with green beans, roasted carrots, artichokes, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, garlic, onions and other vegetables. By combining schnitzel with vegetables, you will get the perfect balance of taste and calorie content.
Meat contains animal proteins, and vegetables contain fiber, which helps the assimilation of heavy and hard-to-digest food, so they complement each other perfectly.
Vegetables also contain vitamins and trace elements necessary for the body. Meat at the same time helps to maintain muscle mass in tone and strengthen bones.
Thus, meat with vegetables is a vitamin-rich, healthy, easily digestible side dish for schnitzel.
Gravy to serve with pork schnitzel
To make the schnitzel juicy and tender, consider gravy sauce as a possible so-called side dish. Also, it can make any dish fragrant and satisfying.
For example, to cook a non-dry chicken schnitzel, use beef broth or chicken broth. So the schnitzel will become even more tender.
Gravy can be of different thicknesses, in this matter you need to start from your own preferences and the rigidity of the selected meat.
Sauce to serve with chicken schnitzel
If you decide not to serve a side dish with schnitzel, then just give preference to one of several possible sauces. For example:
- Satsebeli sauce. To prepare this supplement, you will need water, tomato paste, roasted garlic, cilantro, balsamic vinegar, adjika, as well as salt and freshly ground black pepper. This is a spicy and flavorful sauce, perfect for schnitzel.
- Mushroom sauce. It is a thick and gentle additive for any meat product. For preparing you will need the following ingredients: champignons, sour cream, mayonnaise, and salt. To taste, you can add fresh or dried herbs.
- Garlic sauce. You will need eggs, garlic, salt, red pepper, vegetable oil, and lemon juice. To obtain a homogeneous consistency, whisk all the ingredients in a blender and pour in a very thin stream of vegetable oil. Also add lemon juice (optional).
- Curry sauce. This additive is best suited for chicken schnitzel. The main task of the sauce is to make the dry product tender, juicy, and spicy. To prepare, use sour cream, mayonnaise, curry, red pepper, garlic, and apple cider vinegar.
- Creamy ranch dressing.
What to serve with schnitzel and spaetzle
Spaetzle is a traditional German variety of pasta. Quite often, schnitzel is served with just such a side dish. However, just meat and pasta is too bland and heavy a combination.
Dilute it with fresh herbs, artichokes, stewed vegetables, or a variety of sauces. As sauces, something tender is best suited – cream sauce or mushroom gravy.
What do Austrians eat with Wiener Schnitzel?
Viennese schnitzel is a delicious meal that is considered a classic German dish. The main ingredient is a thin veal cutlet in bread crumbs.
To Viennese schnitzel, you can serve a salad mix of sweet potatoes, tomato slices, fresh herbs and sour cream dressing.
Also check other side dishes to serve: just boiled potatoes, rice pilaf, tomato salad, crumbled bacon, hasselback potatoes, sauteed green beans, egg dumplings, bread dumplings, and also usual fried potatoes.
Best drinks for schnitzel
Strong semi-sweet wine, dark tart beer, as well as cognac are well suited for schnitzel. If you like low-fat and slightly dried schnitzel, choose light drinks, with a small degree.
For example, dry wine (white or red, depending on the type of meat), beer, cocktails. Concentrated juices are suitable as soft drinks for schnitzel. For example: pomegranate juice, orange juice, and cherry juice.
Main tips
To make the balance between the side dish and the schnitzel harmonious, follow the advice from experts:
- Schnitzel should always be served warm. When it cools down, this dish gets an unpleasant taste and begins to secrete excess oil. This may also affect the selected side dish.
- When choosing a side dish, be careful about pan fried or deep fried products. There is a chance to get a meal too heavy for the stomach.
- If you are preparing mashed potatoes for pork or beef schnitzel, don’t abuse butter. Use milk with a small percentage of fat content. Otherwise, the portion will be excessively high in calories.
- If you chose string beans as a side dish, add pine nuts to the schnitzel. Only 5 tablespoons will be enough. Fry them with two cloves of garlic in olive oil. Boil the beans and put them in the same pan. To taste, you can add black pepper.
- If you want to combine meat with potatoes but don’t want to get a heavy taste, use instant potato flakes. To do this, fill them with hot water and wait 5 minutes. To enhance the taste, add fresh herbs and spicy sauce.
Final thoughts
There are many delicious recipes for schnitzel side dishes. Choose the one that can create the best balance of fat content and taste. Professional chefs still recommend choosing vegetables or potatoes.
If you don’t want to choose between ordinary dishes – just use imagination and create unusual flavor combinations.
However, a sauce or a delicious drink can also become a good and delicious option!