Veal Pojarski Recipes

VEAL POJARSKI

Steps:

• Soak the mushrooms in warm water to cover until soft (about 30 minutes), then drain and coarsely chop.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• In a large skillet, melt 1/2 the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, shallot and garlic. Cook, stirring, until shallot is translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. (Do not brown.) Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
• Soak bread in milk for 15 minutes, then lightly squeeze dry.
• In a large bowl, combine porcini mixture, soaked bread, roasted meat, ground veal, thyme, egg and salt. To taste for seasoning, heat a small skillet and fry a chunk of the mixture until browned. Add salt and pepper to mixture, to taste.
• Divide the mixture in half and shape each half into a ball, with a slightly flattened top and bottom. If using bones, poke a hole in one side of each ball and stick a bone into the hole.
• Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy baking dish and gently lay the balls side by side. Lay 2 pieces of bacon on each and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, basting every 4 or 5 minutes, until sizzling and fragrant. Remove bacon for last 5 minutes of cooking. Serve hot.

VEAL PATTIES POJARSKI

Steps:

• Have the veal ground twice by the butcher, or use a food processor to give the texture of twice-ground veal.
• Place the veal in a mixing bowl, and chill it in refrigerator until very cold.
• Remove the chilled veal from the refrigerator and add the nutmeg, salt, pepper, cream and three-quarters of the bread crumbs. Blend well. Beat briskly in a circular motion with a wooden spoon until well blended and smooth.
• Divide the mixture into four equal portions. Shape into patties about 3/4-inch thick. Coat entirely with the remaining bread crumbs.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the patties in one layer without crowding. Brown the patties lightly over medium heat for about 5 minutes, and turn. Continue browning on the other side until the meat is cooked through without becoming dry. Do not overcook.
• Transfer to a warm plate and wipe out the skillet. Add the remaining butter and cook it until it is foamy. Continue cooking until the butter is a hazelnut color. Add the lemon juice and pour over each patty.

CHICKEN CUTLETS POJARSKI WITH PAPRIKA SAUCE

Steps:

• CHICKEN CUTLETS:.
• Chill a medium sized mixing bowl in the freezer.
• Place the boned chicken meat on a board and chop thoroughly with a sharp knife until fine or grind the meat in a meat grinder. (You can use a food processor for this but you must take extreme care not to over-process the meat as the texture of your cooked cutlets will be too heavy.).
• Add the meat to the chilled bowl. Add salt and white pepper to taste, the nutmeg and 5 tablespoons of the butter, melted. Mix well. Return the bowl and mixture to the freezer to chill once more while you prepare the dredging station. Do not freeze.
• Season the flour with salt and white pepper and place on a length of wax paper. Break the egg into a pie plate and beat with the vegetable oil and water. Place the bread crumbs on another length of wax paper.
• Divide the chilled mixture into 6 to 8 portions and shape each into a 1/2 inch thick cutlet. Dip one cutlet at a time into the flour, then in egg, then in bread crumbs. Press the crumbs gently into the cutlets then chill them until ready to cook. ( The cutlets may be made several hours ahead to this point. Keep cutlets refrigerated until ready to cook.).
• Heat the remaining butter in a large skillet and careful add the cutlets. Cook until golden brown on one side then turn and cook on the other.
• Serve with the Paprika Sauce.
• PAPRIKA SAUCE:.
• Melt one tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan and cook the onion until wilted. Sprinkle with the paprika, flour and thyme, stirring. Stir in the chicken stock, using a whisk and simmer about 3 minutes. (The sauce may be made several hours ahead up until this point.).
• Add the cream and bring to a boil. Add the lemon juice, salt and white pepper to taste and the cognac.
• Strain the sauce through a sieve. Return to the heat and stir in the remaining butter and the sour cream. Heat the sauce through but do not bring to a boil.