Who Likes Schnitzel?... me!

So we have a favourite local restaurant #uli's and they make an incredible schnitzel. I would love to give them complete credit for this recipe... but understandably I didn't ask for their recipe and they didn't share...lol... what I did do was eat there repeatedly... commit the flavours to memory and try my best to recreate something close... I have dairy restrictions and while they are super accommodating to dietary restrictions, hollandaise in a restaurant is obviously a no go!!!

The cabbage is easy and hard at the same time... cut up the cabbage into small slivers and set aside. cut up white onion and apples and saute in butter... or in my case earth balance spread (dairy free)

Then add the cabbage to the pot and add some water, apple cider vinegar, a bay leaf, cloves , salt, pepper, and coconut sugar. Boil on low for as long as you have. I say as long as you have because longer equals better flavour.... period.

Then for the schnitzel... I choose #pcfreefrom pork. Its not organic but it is reasonably priced and confirms that the pigs are not given antibiotics. In Canada no swine's can be given hormones so the remaining deficiency over Organic pork is possibly not being free range (I don't know) and that the grain fed diet is GMO (probable but not confirmed.) Either way I feel like it is better health wise than conventional pork... but it is everyones independent risk assessment.

I use organic eggs, flour and bread crumbs, prepped with garlic powder and oregano as the coating for the pork. Again Superstore is great for providing #pcorganics which has a reasonable price point to make it worthwhile to, make the switch from conventional food. Some do a flour wash before the egg wash, but this pork is so thin I think its a wasted step.

I choose to pan fry to start it off in non-GMO avocado oil but finish in the oven at 350. Pan fry until there is a brown crispiness to the coating and add to the oven to complete.

I did these schnitzels as "Neptune" with hollandaise sauce and bay shrimp. You will realize as you read this post that I know my limitations and "cheat". One of my limitations is that I have tried several times to make hollandaise by scratch... and failed.. I suck at it and now I put my efforts elsewhere. #knorr has a premix hollandaise where the "dairy" is so far down in the ingredient list I risked it out for my stomach. I blended it with organic cashew milk and organic #earthbalance spread as required mixes and so far so good with my stomach! It does thicken up as expected and I have given this to people who can eat dairy and they can not tell the difference. None the less I cheated...I own it!..... on to my shrimp choice to redeem myself!

Wild shrimp is a must for me... and warmed. Some schnitzel has cold shrimp under the hollandaise... it might be a thing but I find it confusing while eating... hot cold hot... no.... lets do all hot shall we?

Next for the base... creamy organic mashed potatoes. #pcorganics potatoes have fibre potassium vitamin C and B6, but some traditional ways of cooking potatoes really drains these powerful veggies of their nutrients... culprit 1... boiling them... this process breaks down more than the starchy properties of the potato... the solution? The instapot!!

The #instapot creates a pressure cooker steamed effect to cook potatoes in 15-20 minutes and leaves you with all the nutrients intact. Do you want to know my mom super weapon? Hiding organic cauliflower in there too. Now I warn you.... I at one point became over zealous and tried to create a 50/50 blend of potato to cauli and my 6 year old called me out. I had no choice but to fall on my sword, admit my mistake and promise to never do it again... I still have to promise there is no cauli in there... because I love them.... I lie... there is ... but at a much smaller consistency like 4:1 ratio... I'll confess when they are older but until then.... points to me for salvaging my inititial parenting fail!

Plated it doesn't look spectacular but here is what I do know.... my kids love the pork cutlets plain... check! I've tricked them to love the mashed potatoes... check! And smothered with bay shrimp and hollandaise sauce... it's a treat for adults #winning! Hope you find this an easy meal to prep up! Please let me know how you do with it!

Recipe:

Schnitzel

Thinly sliced pork cutlets or pound down pork chops to desired consistency. The following measurements typically coat pork cutlets for 4 people with little waste! I hate throwing out food.

Pre-heat oven to 350;

Prepare 1 dish with 2 eggs and 1/4 cup of either milk or dairy free alternative like unsweetened almond or cashew milk;

Prepare 1 dish with 1 cup organic flour and 1 cup of organic bread crumbs (amounts do not change if you use non-organic) Add garlic powder, onion powder and oregano to taste.

place a high heat resistant organic/non-GMO oil in a frying pan, I use avocado oil and bring to heat.

Place cutlets in egg wash, then fully coat in bread crumb mix and sear on both sides until golden brown at least 5 mins per side at medium heat.

Place on baking tray and once all cutlets have been seared, place all cutlets in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

German Cabbage

Thinly cut a full red cabbage.

Saute 1 large white onion until translucent and soft by itself.

Place cabbage, onion and 2 shredded apples to a large pot.

Add 2 cups of water and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1-2 bay leaves, powdered cloves, salt and pepper and garlic powder.

Peel and cut at least 8 small potatoes (for 4 people) and place in the instapot with frozen or cut cauliflower florets. The ratio between potato:cauli only matters based on taste and does not affect cooking. Set Instapot to pressure cook for 20 minutes with the bottom lined with water.

Once complete mash with butter or earth balance substitute and either milk or cashew milk until creamy;

Sauté bay shrimp in avocado oil... this takes 5 mins if fully cooked;

Make hollandaise sauce either my shameful cheat way or by scratch! (good for you)

I have also suggested that the meals I make here on my blog are ones that can be made even on a week night. The same is true for this one with a little prep in the morning. My German cabbage dish can be slow cooked all day in a slow cooker. Simply pre cook the onions until translucent and soft and then add them and the other ingredients to a slow cooker. If you are gone like me for 9 hours cook on medium/high for that duration. It will taste like you slow boiled it! Enjoy!

If you are gluten free I have made this with cassava flour and almond meal as the breading and it prepares and tastes great as well. #glutenfreeschnitzel. #dairyfreeschnitzel