Tried-and-true recipe for minced pork cutlets – how to make them and what to serve them with?
It’s hard to imagine Polish cuisine without certain dishes—and one of them is minced pork cutlets. Simple, tasty, and versatile, they can be prepared in many ways, using different types of meat and adding a variety of ingredients for extra flavour. Here’s a tried-and-true recipe for minced pork cutlets, along with some serving suggestions.
Minced pork cutlets – recipe, ingredients, preparation
Minced pork cutlets are nothing more than minced meat mixed—traditionally—with egg, breadcrumbs, and spices. In some regions of Małopolska, they’re called “sznycle.” For most of us, this dish brings to mind a traditional Polish dinner “just like mom” or “just like grandma” used to make.
Everyone prepares this dish a little differently. It all depends on the ingredients, their quality, proportions, and culinary preferences. Below is a tried-and-true and simple recipe for minced pork cutlets – tasty, filling, and easy to make even without great cooking skills.
Everyone prepares this dish a little differently. It all depends on the ingredients, their quality, proportions, and culinary preferences. Below is a tried-and-true and simple recipe for minced pork cutlets – tasty, filling, and easy to make even without great cooking skills.
Ingredients for minced pork cutlets (approx. 8–10 pieces):
• 500 g minced meat (pork, poultry, or mixed – depending on preference)
• 1 medium onion
• 1 white bread roll (e.g. a kaiser roll)
• approx. 100 ml of milk or water (for soaking the bread)
• 1 egg
• Salt, pepper, marjoram
• Breadcrumbs for coating
• Oil for frying
• 1 medium onion
• 1 white bread roll (e.g. a kaiser roll)
• approx. 100 ml of milk or water (for soaking the bread)
• 1 egg
• Salt, pepper, marjoram
• Breadcrumbs for coating
• Oil for frying
How to make minced pork cutlets step by step:
1. Soak the bread in milk or water, squeeze it out, and crumble it by hand or in a blender.
2. Finely chop the onion and sauté it in a bit of oil until translucent. Set aside to cool.
3. Transfer the meat to a bowl, add the bread, egg, onion, and spices. Mix everything thoroughly by hand or with a mixer fitted with a meat attachment.
4. Form cutlets about the size of your palm and coat them in breadcrumbs.
5. Fry over medium heat in hot oil on both sides until golden and well cooked inside.
Minced pork cutlets taste best freshly made, but can also be reheated the next day—in the oven, microwave, or in a frying-pan with a bit of water under a lid.
2. Finely chop the onion and sauté it in a bit of oil until translucent. Set aside to cool.
3. Transfer the meat to a bowl, add the bread, egg, onion, and spices. Mix everything thoroughly by hand or with a mixer fitted with a meat attachment.
4. Form cutlets about the size of your palm and coat them in breadcrumbs.
5. Fry over medium heat in hot oil on both sides until golden and well cooked inside.
Minced pork cutlets taste best freshly made, but can also be reheated the next day—in the oven, microwave, or in a frying-pan with a bit of water under a lid.
Minced pork cutlets – serving suggestions and side dishes
Minced pork cutlets are a fairly universal dish since they can be paired with a variety of sides—vegetables, pasta, groats, or rice. A proper side salad is also important. If you want to save time without compromising on taste, ready-to-eat meals from U Jędrusia are a great solution.
Potatoes
Minced pork cutlets with potatoes and a salad is one of the most popular dinners in Polish households. You can boil the potatoes traditionally or mash them with butter and milk.
Want something quicker? Choose a ready meal from U Jędrusia’s selection – minced pork cutlet with fried beetroots and mashed potatoes. A great option for lunch at work, after work, after school, or simply on a day off when you don’t feel like spending time at the stove.
Want something quicker? Choose a ready meal from U Jędrusia’s selection – minced pork cutlet with fried beetroots and mashed potatoes. A great option for lunch at work, after work, after school, or simply on a day off when you don’t feel like spending time at the stove.
Dumplings or square potato dumplings
Prefer soft, hearty, homemade sides? Choose square potato dumplings or noodles. It's a filling combo that pairs perfectly with cutlets—especially with a bit of sauce or butter with dill. This variation is great for kids or seniors, and some prefer it over classic potatoes.
Minced pork cutlets with groats
Don’t feel like flour-based dishes or potatoes? Groats—like buckwheat or barley—are a great option with cutlets. Cook them loose and add fried onion or herbs for a filling and tasty dinner.
ds or seniors, and some prefer it over classic potatoes.
ds or seniors, and some prefer it over classic potatoes.
Which salad goes with minced pork cutlets?
To complete your dish, serve it with a side salad. The best matches for minced pork cutlets include:
• Beetroots – boiled or fried
• Cooked carrots with peas
• Pickles – fresh, lightly pickled, or fermented
• Cabbage – red or white sauerkraut
• Mixed greens with olive oil
• Spring salad
Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preferences or those of your family, because minced pork cutlets are so universal that they can be combined with most vegetables.
• Beetroots – boiled or fried
• Cooked carrots with peas
• Pickles – fresh, lightly pickled, or fermented
• Cabbage – red or white sauerkraut
• Mixed greens with olive oil
• Spring salad
Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preferences or those of your family, because minced pork cutlets are so universal that they can be combined with most vegetables.
