I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the beef cutlet recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparing beef cutlets. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips, and much more.
What is a Beef Cutlet?
A beef cutlet is a delicious, breaded beef patty prepared from the ground or finely chopped beef. These patties are made tender by pounding or slicing them thin to allow them to cook evenly and faster. Common beef used for cutlets includes sirloin, rib-eye, and steak, but any tender beef can work.
The beef is generally coated in breadcrumbs, seasoned and then fried, but you can also bake or grill it. It provides a crunchy golden outside and a tender inside. Beef cutlets are famous in Middle Eastern and European Cuisine, and can be served with sides like rice, mashed potatoes or vegetables.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and easy steps, it is both an experienced and beginner-friendly meal. It is a simple way to prepare a delicious meal within an hour.
- Crispy & Tender Texture: The seasoning and breadcrumbs provide a crispy crust, while the beef becomes juicy and tender. It is a great mix of tenderness and crunchiness in each bite.
- Versatile & Customizable: You can adjust the flavour to your preference. You can add herbs, spices or heat to make your meal.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: These cutlets keep well in the refrigerator for a few days and freeze easily for later. So, you can prepare a large batch to store them later, making them great for busy days.
Tips
- Choose Tender Cuts of Beef: You can use cuts such as round, flank or sirloin steak. They become tender enough to cook quickly without being touched, making them perfect for cutlets.
- Marinate for Flavor: Marinate the beef with soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. This helps infuse the beef with flavour, improving the taste of the cutlets.
- Season the Breading: Add seasoning like paprika, oregano, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Beef is naturally mild, so seasoning improves its overall flavour.
- Use Binding Agents: You can add breadcrumbs and eggs to bind the mixture together. They help the cutlet hold together and stay fluffy and light.
- Fry in Batches: Ensure to fry them in hot oil to prevent sogginess. It provides juiciness inside the cutlet and makes the outside crunchy.
Variations
- Curry Beef Cutlets: You can season the beef mixture with aromatic curry spices like ginger, cumin, turmeric, and curry powder then shape it into bread, and patties and fry until crispy and golden.
- Vegetable-Stuffed Beef Cutlets: You can prepare them with a mix of ground beef and chopped veggies like carrots, bell peppers and peas stuffed inside the beef patty for a nutritious side.
- Cheese-Stuffed Beef Cutlets: You can add melted, gooey cheese to the beef cutlet. Ground beef is seasoned with herbs and spices, shaped into patties and stuffed with cheese like cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar.
- Asian-Inspired Beef Cutlets: You can season the ground beef with sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, green onions, and garlic, making a savoury umami-packed filling.
- Mediterranean Beef Cutlets: You can infuse the beef cutlets with Mediterranean herbs such as mint, basil, and oregano along with ingredients such as feta cheese, olives and garlic.
Serving Suggestions
- Mashed Potatoes: You can try creamy mashed potatoes for a rich and comforting side which works well with the cutlets. You can also add herbs, garlic, or cheese for more flavour.
- Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: A mix of roasted or steamed vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, peas, and green beans provide colour and freshness to the cutlets. You can also add some herbs or a little olive oil for more flavour.
- Salad: You can try a light refreshing salad with greens like spinach, arugula, and mixed lettuce which provide a refreshing contrast to the beef cutlets.
- Rice or Pilaf: You can try white rice, brown rice or fluffy rice pilaf which absorbs the gravy and juice of the beef, providing more flavour or texture to the dish.
- Coleslaw: You can try zesty coleslaw which provides a crunchy, and a little sour contrast to the rich flavour of the cutlets.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the beef cutlets cool at room temperature.
- You can store the cooled cutlets in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in a plastic wrap and foil.
- You can store the beef cutlets in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
- For freezing, it is recommended to freeze them as soon as they’ve cooled to maintain their freshness.
- To prevent the freezer burn, you can wrap each cutlet in a plastic wrap. Then, put them in an air-tight container or freezer bag, leaving as much air as possible as possible.
- You can label the container or bag to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze the beef cutlet in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, preparing beef cutlets at home provides a satisfying and comforting experience. With simple ingredients and easy instructions, you can make delicious, crispy cutlets that are perfect for any meal. Whether you serve it with fresh salad, mashed potatoes, favorite sauce, it offers a flexible dish that you can customize as per your liking.
So, grab your ingredients and start enjoying the process. If you like this beef cutlet recipe, you can check more delicious recipes on our blog for more cooking ideas.
Read More:- Best Beef Pares Recipe
Beef Cutlet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450g beef steak (use a tender cut like sirloin, flank, or round steak)
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger paste optional, for extra flavor
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika or cayenne pepper for a little heat, optional
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for umami flavor
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs preferably panko for extra crunch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, optional for garnish
- Oil for frying vegetable oil or olive oil
Instructions
- First of all, prepare the beef, you can do it by pounding the steak with a rolling pin or meat mallet until around 1/2 inch thick. It ensures evenly cooking and make the meat tender.
- In case of large steaks, you can cut them into little pieces, around 4-6 pieces depending on the size.
- In a bowl, mix chopped onion, minced garlic, cumin, ginger paste, paprika, coriander, worcesttershire sauce (soy sauce), cayenne, salt and pepper.
- Rub this mixture onto both sides of the beef slices. Allow the beef marinate for around 15-30 minutes or more.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls one with flour, second containing beaten eggs, and the third containing breadcrumbs.
- Cover each slice of beef in flour, shake off any excess. Then, dip the floured beef into the beaten egg, ensuring that it is thoroughly covered. Finally, coat the beef in the breadcrumbs ensuring they stick well.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, you can put the breaded beef cutlet in the pan. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Fry each side of the cutlet until crispy and golden brown, it may take around 3-4 minutes. Flip them gently using a spatula.
- Once both the sides are crispy, take them out from the pan and put them on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
- It’s time to serve the beef cutlet by garnishing them with lemon wedges, fresh parsley etc.