Breaded Polenta Cutlets Recipes

BREADED POLENTA CUTLETS

Steps:

• To make herbed bread crumbs:.
• Pulverize stale or lightly toasted whole wheat, sourdough, or French bread in a food processor. Mix in mixed dried herbs. Set aside.
• Bring the salt and water to a boil. Gradually pour in the cornmeal and stir briskly with a whisk until the polenta begins to thicken. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring frquently until the polenta tastes done. The cooking time will vary with different cornmeals. Finely ground cornmeal might be done after just a few minutes of cooking, coarsely ground and stone ground may need to simmer for up to 45 minutes. Add more water, if needed, during cooking, until the cornmeal is no longer crunchy and the polenta is the consistency of thick porridge.
• Meanwhile, saute the onions, garlic, and ground fennel seeds in the olive oil on medium heat for about 7 minutes. Remove the cooked polenta from the heat. Stir in onions and the grated cheese(if using). Add salt to taste.
• Pour the hot polenta onto an oiled baking tray or 10" pie pan to about 3/4" thickness. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Chill for at least 30 minutes. The plenta will thicken as it cools.
• Preheat the oven to 375*F. and oil a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until they get foamy and then whisk in the milk. Place the bread crumbs in a separate shallow bowl. With a knife, cut the cooled polenta into squares, rectangles, diamonds, or whatever shape you like. Line up in order the pan of cutlets, egg mixture, bread crumbs and the oiled baking sheet.
• Lift one cutlet at a time with a spatula and dip it inot the egg mixture. Lightly coat the cutlet and gently shake off the excess. Then dip each cutlet in the bowl of bread crumbs and coat well. Arrange the cutlets on the baking sheet about an inch apart.
• Bake for 35 minutes, until golden brown on both sides, turning once after about 20 minutes.
• Variation:.
• To fry the cutlets, heat olive oil about 1/4" deep in a skillet and fry the cutlets for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve immediately, or keep in a wqrm oven until ready to serve.

BREADED CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make bread crumbs: Trim the crust off the bread and discard, tear bread into pieces. Spread bread out on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave on HIGH for 1 minute to dry out the bread. (Alternately, spread the bread out on a baking sheet and dry in a preheated 300 degree F oven for 22 to 25 minutes.) Pulse the dried bread or crumbs in a food processor with the thyme, lemon zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper.
• With the flat side of a cook's knife or the smooth side of a meat-pounder, pound each breast to equal thickness. Put the flour, eggs, and the bread crumbs each separately in 3 shallow dishes. Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Dip each breast into the flour, then shake off the excess. Next, run the breast through the egg to coat it lightly and hold the chicken over the liquid to let any excess fall back into the bowl. Finally, lay the chicken in the bread crumbs, turn it over and press it into the breading to coat. Lay on a piece of waxed paper.
• Heat a large skillet (12 inches in diameter) over medium heat. Add the oil. Lay 2 chicken breasts smooth-side down in the pan. Cook the chicken without turning until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook until equally brown on the other side, about 2 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining 2 breasts. Transfer chicken to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Place all 4 breasts on a rack over a baking pan and bake until firm to the touch, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
• Serving suggestion: Lemon wedges, thyme sprigs for garnish .

BREADED PORK CUTLETS

Steps:

• In shallow pan, mix first 4 ingredients.
• In another, mix egg and worcestershire sauce.
• Coat steaks with flour, eggs, then crumbs.
• Cook steaks in hot oil, until golden.
• Cook on med another 5 minutes, until done.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO POLENTA CUTLETS

Steps:

• Cover the sun dried tomatoes with the boiling water in a non-reactive heatproof bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, warm the olive oil and saute the onions, 1/3 of the garlic, and 1/4 teaspoons salt for about 5 minutes, until the onions soften.
• Add 1/3 cup of the basil and the mushrooms, cover, and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their juices, about 10 minutes.
• Drain and mince the sun dried tomatoes, add them to the mushroom mixture, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups water, 3/4 teaspoons salt, and another 1/3 of the garlic to a boil.
• Whisk in the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, stirring rapidly to prevent lumps.
• Lower the heat and cook, uncovered, gently, for about 10 minutes, stirring often, until the polenta is quite thick.
• Add the mushroom mixture to the polenta and mix well.
• Prepare an 8x12 inch glass or porcelain baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
• Spread the polenta mixture evenly in the baking dish and chill in the freezer for 1/2 hour or in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• When the polenta mixture has chilled enough to hold its shape when cut, it will be very easy to handle.
• While the polenta is chilling, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, the parsley, and the remaining garlic and basil in a food processor or blender and whirl together until well mixed.
• Pour out into a large deep platter.
• In a separate large shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg whites and remainging 1/4 teaspoon salt until slightly frothy.
• Preheat the oven to 400*F.
• Cut the chilled polenta in half lengthwise, in thirds crosswise, and then cut each rectangular sixth in half on the diagonal.
• This mathmatical wizardry makes 12 triangular cutlets (they say trust us).
• Using a spatula, remove each triangle from the baking dish, dip it in the egg whites, and then thoroughly coat it with the bread crumb mixture.
• Place the breaded cutlets on a large very lightly oiled or sprayed baking tray and bake for 20 minutes.
• With a metal spatula, carefully turn each cutlet over and bake for 10 minutes more, until golden brown.
• Enjoy!
• Note:.
• You may top each serving of cutlets with a tomato-wine sauce, savory onion marmalade, pesto, or sauce of your choice.

BREADED LAMB CUTLETS,

Steps:

• Trim off any excess fat from each cutlet, flatten slightly with a meat mallet.
• Combine breadcrumbs, parsley, basil and cheese. Coat cutlets in flour dip into egg then coat completely in breadcrumb mixture.
• Lay cutlets flat on a tray or plate in a single layer, place in refrigerator for 10 Min's this makes them easier to handle.
• Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in fry pan add lamb ( you may need to use a couple of pans) Cook until browned on both sides turn the heat down and continue cooking until cooked as desired, turning occasionally, I do this instead of finishing in the oven as the coating tends to lose its crispiness.
• I have allowed for three cutlets per person so make 16 if you want four per person.
• Serve with mash, roasted or boiled potato and vegetable.