Schnitzel

Chicken has always been one of my favorite foods and since being in Israel, there has been schnitzel EVERYWHERE! This lens is going to give a recipe for making schnitzel at home (which I have tried and even though I am DEFINITELY NOT the best cook around, it came out very tastey!) and a few restaurant recommendations around Tel Aviv, Israel that has some great schnitzel! The key to the tastiest schnitzel is for it to be thin and crispy! There are definitely way more restaurants out there that have good schnitzel (practically every restaurant/cafe serves it), but I haven't been to half of them so only a few are listed here.

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 large breasts)

1 cup flour for dredging

2 eggs

1 cup breadcrumbs, matzo meal, or panko

2 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)

Salt and pepper

Oil for frying (pick one with a high smoke point like grapeseed)

Fresh lemon wedges for garnish

YOU WILL ALSO NEED

Plastic wrap, mallet, skillet, paper towels

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Total Time: 35 Minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Kosher Key: Meat

Step 1: Lay down a 2-foot long strip of plastic wrap on your kitchen countertop. Place chicken breasts on the plastic, leaving a 2-inch space between each breast. Cover the breasts with another strip of plastic, so the meat is sandwiched between two layers of plastic. Use a mallet to pound the breasts until they are a little less than ¼ inch thick.

Step 2: Set up three wide, shallow bowls and a large plate on your countertop. In your first bowl, put the flour. In your second bowl, beat the eggs. In your third bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, paprika, 1 tsp salt and sesame seeds (optional) till well blended. Leave an empty plate nearby where you will place your coated schnitzels.

Step 3: Pour oil into a skillet until it's deep enough for frying (about ½ inch). Heat the oil slowly over medium. While oil is heating, dip each breast one by one into your breading bowls-first coat with flour, then with egg, then with breadcrumb mixture.

Step 4: The ideal temperature to fry schnitzel is around 375 degrees F. When the oil is hot (but not smoking or splattering), fry the coated breasts in single-layer batches until they are golden brown on both sides. If your oil is at the right temperature, it should take about 3-4 minutes per side. Don't fry more than two breasts at a time in a regular sized skillet, or the oil temperature will drop and the schnitzels will become greasy.

Step 5: After frying, set the schnitzels on a paper towel and pat them dry to soak off excess oil.

Step 6: Sprinkle the schnitzels with salt to taste. Serve hot garnished with lemon wedges and your favorite condiment.

Recipe from The Shiksa in the Kitchen (Read more at http://theshiksa.com/2011/02/09/chicken-schnitzel/...

Cafe Barnash is a cute little cafe located on Bograshov Street in Tel Aviv. There is a wide range of food here and very friendly atmosphere. The schnitzel is a good size portion and very tasty! However, word to the wise! I once got stuck in their bathroom...scariest experience of my life! The door to the ladies bathroom gets stuck sometimes, so always travel to the bathroom with a phone in hand ladies! (just in case :) )

King George Resto Bar is located on King George Street in Tel Aviv. It's a place where you can eat a lot of food for an inexpensive price, with a bar inside as well. The schnitzel here is very good! You should definitely check this place out for some good tasting schnitzel :)

Hashdera 34 is located on Ben Gurion street in Tel Aviv. This restaurant is always packed! Like King George Restaurant, it has a lot of food for a cheaper price. The service is lovely and everyone always has a smile on. If you are really hungry (and want some good schnitzel!), you should definitely go here because you will get a HUGE portion of food. This restaurant comes highly recommended as well.

Cafe Noir is located on Ahad Ahem Street in Tel Aviv. I haven't been here many times, but they are KNOWN for their schnitzel here! The schnitzel serving is also quite large! This restaurant is a bit on the more expensive side compared to the other couple that I have listed here, but it is well worth it! The atmosphere is very friendly and a very pleasant place to sit down for a nice dinner meal. Definitely a top choice to go have some schnitzel at!

What's your favorite recipe for making schnitzel? What restaurants and/or cafes have you been to that you just absolutely loved the schnitzel?!