Chicken Schnitzel Sandwiches
Something I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned on this blog before is that I enjoy musicals quite a bit. I admittedly don’t have the Broadway cash to be able to get out and see the majority of the ‘newer’ ones that have come out- but when it comes to certain classics that have either been videotaped and sold or broadcast on PBS or, made into actual cinema movies, I’ve got quite a few favorites.
For me, the #1 spot permanently belongs to “Phantom the Opera” (by Lloyd Webber). I fell in love with it from that very first time I watched it/heard the music and no other musical is ever going to take its place.
“My Fair Lady” is a very close second, though. I went through a phase where I kept the VHS of My Fair Lady semi-permanently set out next to my tv because I would watch it at least several times a week. To this day the song “On the Street Where You Live” is enough to always make me smile and pull me out of the worst moods.
“The Wiz”, “Chicago”, “The Slipper & the Rose”, “RENT”, “Carmen Jones”, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”, “Grease”, “Gigi”, “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Ain’t Misbehavin”, “Annie”, “Sweeney Todd”, “West Side Story”.
Love them all.
I could go on, but you get the picture, right? I really love musicals.
So, what do musicals have to do with today’s post?
There IS a connection, actually. You may have noticed that in my little list of favorite musicals, I left one out- possibly one of THE most well-known and popular musicals of all time.
Calling all theater nerds: which one did I leave out?
Yep. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music”.
If for nothing else, many people are familiar with The Sound of Music for the song “My Favorite Things” that (for some reason that I never have really understood) has become a song that’s sung here in America at Christmastime.
I have only, ever, and always thought about one thing when I hear(d) the word ‘schnitzel’.
Just one thing, period.
Maria von Trapp-the main character who sings the song “My Favorite Things”. I kinda knew about schnitzel with noodles before I even knew just what the heck schnitzel was. I knew it was probably some kind of meat since it was being eaten ‘with’ noodles, but besides that- not a clue.
Eventually when I became a foodie and started cooking I found out what it was, but still wasn’t very interested in it. It was one of those foods I saw come out around October for Oktoberfest with a bunch of other German/Austrian foods. And for some reason, there’s a restaurant in my area that has a schnitzel special come out around St. Patrick’s Day. I’m not typically a huge fan of German food so I never had much of a reason to try schnitzel, whether it was made by me or someone else.
Recently, I was thumbing through an issue of Food Network Magazine and I came across a recipe for Pretzel Rolls that really stuck out to me-enough so that I decided to go ahead and try it out for myself. It was a marvelous success, and the subject of my last blog post. Directly opposite the pretzels rolls in the magazine was a recipe for Schnitzel Sandwiches that they suggested you pair with the rolls.
Well lemme tell you guys, the schnitzel in the magazine looked SO tasty alongside those pretzel rolls that I just couldn’t resist following that recommendation. I went to the store and bought myself chicken and decided to give it a try for myself.
And now, I really do understand why schnitzel made the list of Maria’s favorite things. I SO get it now.
If you buy meat that’s already been pounded thin for you, then this dish is actually really easy and relatively quick. The seasonings are also pretty simple, but they yield such wonderful results. The coating fried up SO golden brown and crisp, and it stayed on like glue even while frying (I’m pretty sure it was because of the chilling given to the cutlets before they get to the pan, so I wouldn’t skip that step if I were you.) I ate my chicken on a golden brown pretzel roll just like the recipe suggested, served alongside some potato chips sprinkled with malt vinegar.
SO GOOD, y’all.
Heck, even when I was eating the leftovers (after the crispiness had left the coating for obvious reasons) I STILL thought this dish was awesome. So awesome, that I’m bringing it to this week’s Fiesta Friday #91, co-hosted this week by Juju @ cookingwithauntjuju and Indira @ I’ll Cook, You Wash. I’m pretty sure I’ll make all of us schnitzel-lover converts by the time the party’s over 😉
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Chicken Schnitzel Sandwiches
Recipe Adapted from Food Network Magazine
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- kosher salt & black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
- 2 tsp. caraway seeds, poppy seeds, fennel seeds or combination of the three
- 8 chicken cutlets
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbp. unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- 8 pretzels rolls (see recipe)
Directions
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs and milk in another shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Combine the breadcrumbs and seeds in a third dish; season with salt and pepper.
Lightly dredge each cutlet in the flour, shaking off the excess. Dip in the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to coat both sides.
Arrange the cutlets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for 1 hour. (It helps the coating stick to the meat)
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the cutlets until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per side, sprinkling with the parsley during the last minute of cooking. Remove to a rack or paper-towel lined plate to drain. Season with salt.
Sandwich the schnitzels on the pretzels rolls (you may need to cut the bigger pieces of meat.) Top with pickles, red onion, lettuce and/or mustard.
This is just too good, love schnitzel and on your pretzel rolls. Oh wow!!
Thank you Suzanne, it really is a winning combination 😀
I’ve never tried my kids on chicken schnitzel. I should try this recipe out on them. Sound of Music references might enthuse them to try since my boys and I are also big fans of musicals. They love Oliver best and I love Fiddler on the Roof but we all share s second favourite in Singin’ in the Rain.
If they love musicals and the Sound of Music I’d say that schnitzel is a MUST for you and your boys Laura! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
That crispy coating has me drooling!!!
Thank you, let me tell you it made the most wonderful crunch when I first bit into it 🙂
Ah Jess, chicken schnitzel is one of my all time favourite foods! I just got back to Australia and it was one of the first things I had to have. It’s a big pub/bar food in Australia, so it’s served everywhere and is so freaking good! Yours looks great, well done.
Thank you Alice- I’m a new convert and I totally understand why you like it so much now 🙂
Schnitzel rocks! Try pork ones closed with a wedge of lemon..
Oh that sounds awesome. My next go at schnitzel will definitely be with pork 🙂
You got me wanting it now too!
My favorite musical by far is the Sound of Music – I really enjoy a good love story! While in Germany visiting a sister a long time ago she had this great homestyle German restaurant near her. The food was fantastic and schnitzel was a favorite but with pork. Your pictures are making me hungry – thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday 🙂
I bet the schnitzel in Germany is beyond amazing. Thank you!
I love musicals too. I grew up to Oklahoma and the Music Man, so they’re not exactly the same level of classics. And, of course, I love the Sound of Music. Your sandwich is simply mouthwatering. I love how the recipe is (relatively) simple. Happy FF, and have a wonderful weekend! 😀
It’s really simple Kaila, but if you were to make it for a large or small crowd, I guarantee that they’ll be impressed. Thank you, and you have a wonderful weekend too!
I so love Schnitzel!!! Fair enough, I grew up with them, but wow – yours look delicious! We use veal escalopes traditionally, but chicken sounds lovely, too. Do try them with homemade breadrumbs – just some dry old white bread, grated very finely – the flavour and the texture is amazing!
Must have a look at your pretzel rolls now .. 🙂
Thanks Ginger, everyone keeps telling me pork schnitzel is awesome and I think veal sounds just as good,I’ll definitely try to make some other types 🙂
Go for it – you can never have enough Schnitzel in your life!
I LOVE schnitzel! Perhaps from living in Germany and Austria a couple times. Give me a good jaeger schnitzel drowning in mushroom sauce, ah that is great. Love The Sound of music too, went on the tour in Austria!
Mmmm, that sounds DELICIOUS. Thank you Gretchen, I appreciate your compliments since you obviously have had some pretty good schnitzel 😉
That’s a nice looking sandwich, Jess. Yummy!
Why thank you Anna 🙂
sure 😀
I wish that I could just one bite! It looks so yummy!
Trust me, one bite wouldn’t be enough lol Thank you!
This looks delectable, Jess! That crust – yum. Sound of Music is one of my favorites, and I never really stopped to think what she was talking about in that song. No wonder it is one of her favorite things! 🙂
Thanks Shari, it’s definitely one of my new favorite things now!
Yum–these sandwiches look wonderful!
Thank you very much Nancy, I was really happy with how they came out 🙂
That looks and sounds really scrumptious!