Kotlet Schabowy (Polish Breaded Pork Cutlet)

About This Recipe

Kotlet Schabowy is a real, traditional Polish dish, known as Polish Breaded Pork Cutlet. A pounded, breaded and pan-fried pork cutlet, Poland's answer to schnitzel, served with potatoes and cooked cabbage.\n\nKotlet schabowy became a fixture of Sunday family dinners across Poland in the 20th century, closely related to the Austrian schnitzel introduced through cultural exchange within the former Austro-Hungarian territories.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Polish home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 4boneless pork loin chops
• 1 tspfine sea salt
• 0.5 tspblack pepper
• 0.5 cupall-purpose flour
• 2eggs(beaten)
• 1.5 cupsbreadcrumbs
• 4 tbspneutral oil(for frying)
• 2 tbspbutter(for frying)

Instructions

1. 1

   Pound the cutlets

   Place each pork chop between plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness of about 1 cm.

2. 2

   Season

   Season both sides with salt and pepper.

3. 3

   Set up breading station

   Arrange flour, beaten eggs and breadcrumbs in three separate shallow dishes.

4. 4

   Bread the cutlets

   Dredge each cutlet in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, pressing gently to help the coating adhere.

5. 5

   Fry

   Heat oil and butter together in a wide skillet over medium heat and fry the cutlets for 4 to 5 minutes per side until deeply golden and cooked through.

6. 6

   Drain and serve

   Drain briefly on paper towels and serve hot with boiled potatoes and cooked cabbage or a simple salad.

Variations

• •

  A chicken version (kotlet z kurczaka) is a lighter, faster-cooking alternative.

• •

  Add a pinch of sweet paprika to the breadcrumbs for extra color and flavor.

• •

  Serve with lemon wedges for a brighter finish, a common modern addition.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions