A schnitzel is a thin slice of

meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...

. The meat is usually thinned by pounding with a meat tenderizer. Most commonly, the meat is breaded before frying. Breaded schnitzel is popular in many countries and is made using

veal Veal is the meat of calves, in contrast to the beef from older cattle. Veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any breed, however most veal comes from young male calves of dairy breeds which are not used for breeding. Generally, v ...

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the domestic pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooked and preserved ...

chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adu ...

, mutton,

beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). In prehistoric times, humankind hunted aurochs and later domesticated them. Since that time, numerous breeds of cattle have been bred specifically for the quality or quantit ...

, or

turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

. Schnitzel is very similar to the dish '' escalope'' in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

, ''

tonkatsu is a Japanese dish that consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. It involves coating slices of pork with panko (bread crumbs), and then frying them in oil. The two main types are fillet and loin. Tonkatsu is also the basis of other ...

'' in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

, '' cotoletta'' in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, '' kotlet schabowy'' in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

, '' milanesa'' in

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...

, ''chuleta valluna'' in

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the ...

, and chicken-fried steak and pork tenderloin of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

Etymology

The German word ( gmh, snitzel) is a diminutive of , 'slice'. The name '' Wiener schnitzel'' is first attested in 1845.

''Wiener schnitzel''

is a popular Viennese dish made of

and traditionally garnished with a slice of

lemon The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...

and either

potato salad Potato salad is a salad dish made from boiled potatoes, usually containing a dressing and a variety of other ingredients such as boiled eggs and raw vegetables. In the United States, it is generally considered a side dish and usually accompanie ...

or potatoes with

parsley Parsley, or garden parsley (''Petroselinum crispum'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae that is native to the central and eastern Mediterranean region (Sardinia, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, southern Italy, Greece, ...

and

butter Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condim ...

. In Austria and Germany, must be made of veal. When other meats are used, it can be called ("Viennese schnitzel of pig/turkey/chicken") or ("Schnitzel Viennese style").

Worldwide schnitzels

The English term schnitzel means in general all types of breaded, fried flat pieces of meat. Due to the similarity between schnitzel and escalope, in many of the countries listed below, people sometimes refer to schnitzels as escalope, and vice versa.

Africa

Egypt

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning the North Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via a land bridg ...

, there are two dishes similar to schnitzel, one made with chicken and the other with veal. When chicken, it is called "frakh pané" or "فراخ بانى" and is also popular with French fries, in sandwiches, or eaten alone as an appetizer. Using veal, it is called "boftik" or "بفتيك".

Namibia

Schnitzel, both chicken and pork, is common in Namibia due to the country's German colonial history. A majority of the restaurants in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, and Swakopmund offer it on their menus, often topped with a fried egg and accompanied by potato salad. It is often eaten in a ''Brötchen ''(German sandwich roll) with tomatoes, cheese, and other dressing.

South Africa

Schnitzel is popular in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...

, due to the country's European heritage. Chicken schnitzels and ''cordon bleu'' schnitzels are a common item on most restaurant menus and hospitals, and in recent years, beef and pork schnitzels have also become widely available.

Asia

Japan

Tonkatsu set by zezebono in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Japanese consists of a flattened pork loin, lightly seasoned, coated in flour, dipped in beaten egg, coated with '' panko'' crumbs and deep fried. ''Tonkatsu'' is often served as an accompaniment to ''

ramen is a Japanese noodle dish. It consists of served in a broth; common flavors are soy sauce and miso, with typical toppings including , nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), and scallions. Ramen has its roots in Chinese noodle di ...

'' or ''

udon Udon ( or ) is a thick noodle made from wheat flour, used in Japanese cuisine. It is a comfort food for many Japanese people. There are a variety of ways it is prepared and served. Its simplest form is in a hot soup as with a mild broth called ...

'' or featured with curry and rice. Pork tonkatsu was invented in Japan in 1899 at the Rengatei restaurant in Tokyo. It was originally considered a type of '' yōshoku''—Japanese versions of

European cuisine European cuisine comprises the cuisines of Europe "European Cuisine."cutlet) or simply ''katsu''. Variations include the use of pork fillet (''hirekatsu''), chicken (''

chicken katsu Chicken katsu (), also known as panko chicken, or tori katsu () is a Japanese dish of fried chicken made with panko bread crumbs which is also popular in Italy, Hawaii, London, California, and other areas of the world. Chicken katsu is generall ...

''), beef (''gyūkatsu''), ham (''hamukatsu'') and minced meat ('' menchi-katsu'').

Korea

Korean cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural envi ...

, pork (, from Japanese ), chicken (), and beef () cutlets are popular. The most common types of are "" (경양식; Western-style) and ""(일본식; Japanese-style).

Europe

Austria

Wiener schnitzel, a very thin, breaded and pan fried cutlet made from

, is one of the best known specialities of Viennese cuisine, and is one of the national dishes of Austria. Wiener schnitzel with sauce is considered unacceptable in Austrian culture. Popular unbreaded variants in Austria are: *''

Jägerschnitzel Jägerschnitzel ( German for 'hunter's cutlet', in French ) is a German dish made of a roast veal or pork cutlet with a sauce made of mushrooms and tomatoes or cream. In regional cuisine the dish can also be a schnitzel made of breaded, roaste ...

'' ('hunter's schnitzel') is a schnitzel with mushroom sauce. *''Rahmschnitzel'' ('cream schnitzel') is a schnitzel with a

cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

sauce, often containing some mushrooms. *''Zigeunerschnitzel'' ('Romani schnitzel') is a schnitzel with a zigeuner sauce containing tomato,

bell pepper The bell pepper (also known as paprika, sweet pepper, pepper, or capsicum ) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species ''Capsicum annuum''. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange ...

s, and

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' L., from Latin ''cepa'' meaning "onion"), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the on ...

slices.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...

, the dish is called ''bečka šnicla'' or ''bečki odrezak'' (''bečki'' = "Viennese"; ''šnicla'' = transliteration of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

''Schnitzel'') and is made of veal or beef and usually served with mashed potatoes. Common garnishes include a slice of lemon or some lettuce.

Bulgaria

Called шницел (''shnitsel''), it is made from ground veal, formed as a thin patty, seasoned with

salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...

and

black pepper Black pepper (''Piper nigrum'') is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about in dia ...

, then breaded and fried. The dish usually is served with a choice of mashed or roasted potatoes, French fries, or simply a tomato salad. It is common at truck stops, and it is usually ordered ''à la carte'', coming with a lemon wedge, but one can also find it in the frozen sections in supermarkets or premade and ready to cook.

Croatia

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = " Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capi ...

, the dish is called ''bečki odrezak'' (or ''šnicl'') (''bečki'' = "Viennese";'' šnicl'' = transliteration of German ''Schnitzel'') and it is made of veal (sometimes substituted with cheaper pork) and served with French fries or potato salad and a slice of lemon. A similar dish is called ''zagrebački odrezak'' (''šnicl'') (a variation on cordon bleu).

Czech Republic

''Schnitzel'' is also very popular in the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

, where it is known as a ''smažený řízek'' or just ''řízek'', and is made of pork, chicken, or veal. It is often served with boiled or mashed potatoes or potato salad. It also used to be and to some degree still is a typical packed lunch for day trips, when it was consumed with bread (often between two slices of bread as a sandwich). During the communist period, a deep-fried breaded hard cheese called '' smažený sýr'' (literally, "fried cheese") became popular, mainly among the youth and students, especially served with tartar sauce, a slice of lemon, and boiled new potatoes with melted butter and parsley greens.

Denmark

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

, the dish is called ''skinkeschnitzel'' when made of pork and ''wienerschnitzel'' when made of veal, and is usually served with fried potatoes,

gravy Gravy is a sauce often made from the juices of meats that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with wheat flour or corn starch for added texture. The gravy may be further coloured and flavoured with gravy salt (a simple mix of sa ...

, green or snow

pea The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the flowering plant species ''Pisum sativum''. Each pod contains several peas, which can be green or yellow. Botanically, pea pods are fruit, since they contain seeds and d ...

s, and a "boy" (''dreng'' in Danish) consisting of a lemon slice topped with

caper ''Capparis spinosa'', the caper bush, also called Flinders rose, is a perennial plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers. The plant is best known for the edible flower buds (capers), used as a seasoning ...

horseradish Horseradish (''Armoracia rusticana'', syn. ''Cochlearia armoracia'') is a perennial plant of the family Brassicaceae (which also includes mustard, wasabi, broccoli, cabbage, and radish). It is a root vegetable, cultivated and used worldwi ...

, and a slice of anchovy.

Estonia

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...

, schnitzels (šnitsel) are commonly made with pork. There also exists a schnitzel made from cheese that has been breaded and fried, typically served with salad.

Finland

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bot ...

, the dish called ''Wieninleike'' ("Viennese cutlet"), is almost always made of pork, breaded and fried like the original. It is usually served with French fries, potato mash, or wedge potatoes. A slice of lemon, a slice of anchovy, and a few

s are placed on top of the cutlet. Usually, the dish includes a small amount of salad made from fresh vegetables. The dish was popular between the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

and the 1990s, when it could be found in most low-end restaurants in Finland. In past decades, it has been overtaken in popularity by fast food. Wieninleike and its variations remain a staple of menus in many non-ethnic or fine dining restaurant in Finland. Lunch restaurants, highway rest stops and restaurants attached to gas stations are most prominently associated with this type of menu in Finland. *''Wieninleike'' ("Viennese cutlet") served typically with slice of lemon, anchovy, and caper *''Floridanleike'' ("Floridian cutlet") served with fried peach and served with Béarnaise sauce *''Havaijinleike'' ("Hawaiian cutlet") served with fried pineapple *''Holsteininleike'' ("Holstein cutlet") served with egg, anchovy, and caper *''Metsästäjänleike'' ("hunter's cutlet") served with mushroom sauce *''Oskarinleike'' ("Oscar's cutlet") served with choron-sauce, shrimps or lobster, and asparagus *''Oopperaleike'' ("opera cutlet") served with fried egg *''Sveitsinleike'' ("Swiss cutlet") is filled with smoked ham and Emmentaler cheese Typically the dishes above are prepared from pork.

France

'' Pariser schnitzel'' is similar to Wiener schnitzel but is floured and fried in an egg batter instead of using breadcrumbs. Jägerschnitzel IMG 0936

Germany

In Germany, the term ''Schnitzel'' means cutlets in general, not just breaded, fried ones. *'' Schnitzel Wiener Art'' ('Viennese style schnitzel') is a pounded, breaded and fried cutlet, more often made of pork than of veal. Restaurants mostly serve it with a slice of lemon and french fries. *''

'' ('hunter's schnitzel') is a schnitzel with mushroom sauce. An East German variant of ''Jägerschnitzel'' is made of ''

Jagdwurst ''Jagdwurst'' (literally ''hunting sausage'') is a German cooked sausage made with finely ground pork sausage meat and coarse chunks of lean pork or pork belly. Some recipes also include beef. The meat is usually seasoned with salt and flavoured ...

'' sausage and without sauce. *''Zigeunerschnitzel'' ('Romani schnitzel') is a schnitzel with a zigeuner sauce containing tomato,

s, and

slices. This schnitzel is also called ''Paprikaschnitzel'' ('bell pepper schnitzel'), ''Schnitzel Balkan-Art'' ('Balkan-style schnitzel') or ''Schnitzel Budapester Art'' ('Budapest-style schnitzel'). *''Rahmschnitzel'' (cream schnitzel) is a schnitzel with a

sauce. *''Münchner Schnitzel'' ('Munich schnitzel') is a variation on Wiener schnitzel prepared with horseradish or mustard before coating in flour, egg and bread crumbs.

Hungary

Due to the strong Austrian influence of the

Austro-Hungarian Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1 ...

era, ''Wiener schnitzel'' is popular in

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...

, known as ''bécsi szelet'' (Viennese slice), ''borjú bécsi'' (Viennese veal) or ''rántott hús'' (breaded meat). It is served in restaurants, and is a common meal in Hungarian homes, often prepared on Sundays or for festivities with ''spätzle'', French fries, mashed potatoes, or rice. Alternatively, green peas or other vegetables are used as a side dish. Bread and salad (or pickles) often accompany the meal. Some restaurants offer the ''cordon bleu'' variant, a slice of schnitzel rolled and filled with cheese and ham.

Italy

In Italy, there is a similar dish called cotoletta. Cotoletta is very similar to the Austrian Wiener Schnitzel.

Netherlands and Belgium

In the Netherlands (and Belgium) schnitzel is mostly made of pork and served with fries and vegetable salad. ''Zigeunerschnitzel'' (served with paprika) and ''Cordon bleu'' (Blue ribbon) are very popular. A typical Dutch variant is the 'gehaktschnitzel', a schnitzel made of minced meat. In the Netherlands, every butcher has his own variants.

North Macedonia

In the Republic of North Macedonia, the dish called шницла () is a piece of pork seasoned with salt and black pepper, breaded and fried. Typically, it is served with mashed or fried potatoes with green salad garnish.

Poland

'' Kotlet schabowy'' is a classical and most popular recipe for boneless pork chop or pork tenderloin. It can also be made from chicken.

Portugal

In Portugal, schnitzel is called ''bife panado'' or just ''panado'' ("breaded"). Different varieties of'' panado ''can be made with chicken (''panado de frango''), turkey (''panado de peru''), pork (''costeleta panada'' for pork chop, ''febra panada'' for pork without bone), or veal (''escalope de vitela panado''). The meat is usually seasoned with black pepper, garlic, and lemon juice. It is commonly served with spaghetti, fried potatoes, or rice (plain or with beans). It is also popular as a sandwich, served in a bun with lettuce (''sandes de panado'').

Romania

Romanian ''șnițel'' () is very common in restaurants, fast-food places, and homes across the country. Normally served simple and unadorned, the fast food version is differentiated by being served sandwich/burger style. ''Cordon bleu șnițel'' (made from pork loin stuffed with cheese and ham) is also very popular. The Romanian ''șnițel'' is made in the same manner as the Austrian one, but as a local characteristic is made of almost any type of meat (chicken, pork, veal or beef). A specialty from western Romania is the ''mosaic șnițel'' made of two thin meat layers (usually each layer of different meat) and a vegetable (usually mushroom) filling. Also a recipe for ''șnițel de ciuperci,'' a mushroom fritter, is common.

Russia

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

, the dish is called отбивная (''otbivnaya''), which literally means a piece of meat that has been beaten.

Russian cuisine Russian cuisine is a collection of the different dishes and cooking traditions of the Russian people as well as a list of culinary products popular in Russia, with most names being known since pre-Soviet times, coming from all kinds of social ...

includes recipes of schnitzel prepared from pork, as well as beef, veal, and chicken.

Serbia

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

, the dish is called ''bečka šnicla'' (Viennese schnitzel). A local urban legend states the dish originated in Serbia and not in Austria, but no one can say why. In

, the word Schnitzel is used to describe any cutlet, not just breaded meat.

Slovakia

Schnitzel is highly popular in

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the ...

, a country bordering Austria, where it is referred to as ''vyprážaný rezeň''. or simply ''rezeň'' (in the Western parts of the country, especially in Bratislava, colloquially also ''schnitzel'', or ''šniceľ''). It is often made of pork or chicken, and is typically served with fried potatoes (not peeled), boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, fries (especially in canteens), potato salad, or rice.

Slovenia

German Schnitzel translates to Slovene as ''zrezek'' thus Wiener Schnitzel is called ''dunajski zrezek'' (Vienna is ''Dunaj'' in Slovenian). As in Austria a real ''dunajski zrezek'' is made of veal. Restaurants serving the dish can be found throughout the country, though typically it is made of pork or chicken. ''Dunajski zrezek'' is usually served with fried or roasted potato and a slice of lemon. Less popular is ''pariški zrezek'' which is prepared the same way but with no breadcrumbs. In Slovenia, a schnitzel filled with ham and cheese, breaded and fried ( Cordon Bleu) is called ''ljubljanski zrezek'' (after Ljubljana, the country's capital). ''Zrezek'' can also be grilled, fried, braised or pot roasted.

Spain

Schnitzel in Spain is Escalope or Escalopa. ''San Jacobo'' (commonly) or ''cachopo'' (in northern Spain) is usually made with veal or pork stuffed with ham and cheese. For generations it was enjoyed, together with potato omelettes, on family picnics in the countryside.

Sweden

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic countries, Nordic c ...

, the dish is called ''schnitzel'' or ''Wienerschnitzel'', and is made most commonly of pork, and is often decorated with a

-filled circle of either genuine anchovies or the Swedish "fake" ''ansjovis'' (made of

brine Brine is a high-concentration solution of salt (NaCl) in water (H2O). In diverse contexts, ''brine'' may refer to the salt solutions ranging from about 3.5% (a typical concentration of seawater, on the lower end of that of solutions used for ...

-cured

sprat Sprat is the common name applied to a group of forage fish belonging to the genus '' Sprattus'' in the family Clupeidae. The term also is applied to a number of other small sprat-like forage fish ('' Clupeoides'', '' Clupeonella'', '' Corica'' ...

s). It is served with rice, fries, or boiled potatoes, and green peas.

Switzerland

Schnitzel, ''Schnipo, Wienerschnitzel'', and ''Rahmschnitzel'' are all popular dishes in Switzerland. ''Schnipo'' (a schnitzel and fried potato combination) is quite popular. The ''Rahmschnitzel'' version is made with either veal or pork and topped with a cream sauce, sometimes including mushrooms. The ''cordon bleu'' variant of schnitzel – two slices of schnitzel (or one with a pocket) filled with cheese, typically Emmentaler or Gruyere, and a slice of ham – is also popular in Switzerland. Also the "Walliser Schnitzel" is a variant in which the meat is not breaded, but is fried in oil and then coated with tomato sauce and

raclette Raclette (, ) is a Swiss dish, also popular in the other Alpine countries, based on heating cheese and scraping off the melted part, then typically served with boiled potatoes. Raclette cheese is historically a dish originating from the canton of ...

cheese.

Ukraine

In West Ukraine (former Habsburg

Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria,, ; pl, Królestwo Galicji i Lodomerii, ; uk, Королівство Галичини та Володимирії, Korolivstvo Halychyny ta Volodymyrii; la, Rēgnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae also known as ...

), it is known as шніцель ''shnitsel′''; in the rest of the country, it is called as відбивна ''vidbyvna'', also '. It is usually made of pork, or sometimes chicken.

United Kingdom

The

parmo Parmo, or Teesside Parmesan, is a dish originating in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, and a popular item of take-away food in the Teesside area. It consists of a breaded cutlet of chicken or pork topped with a white béchamel sauce and cheese ...

, or Teesside Parmesan, is a schnitzel popular in

Middlesbrough Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area. Until the early 1800s, the ...

Teesside Teesside () is a built-up area around the River Tees in the north of England, split between County Durham and North Yorkshire. The name was initially used as a county borough in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Historically a hub for heavy manu ...

, and a popular item of take-away food in North East England. It consists of a breaded cutlet of chicken or pork topped with a white

béchamel sauce Bechamel sauce ( ) is a sauce traditionally made from a white roux (butter and flour in a 1:1 mixture by weight) and milk. Bechamel may also be referred to as besciamella (Italy), besamel (Greece), or white sauce (U.S.). French, Italian and Gree ...

and cheese, usually

cheddar cheese Cheddar cheese (or simply cheddar) is a natural cheese that is relatively hard, off-white (or orange if colourings such as annatto are added), and sometimes sharp-tasting. Cheddar originates from the English village of Cheddar in Somerset. Che ...

Middle East

Iran

Schnitzel is popular in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

, where it is known as ''shenitsel'' ( fa, شنیتسل). Thought to have been introduced in

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

during the World Wars, ''shenitsel'' is usually thicker, bigger, spicier, and fried with a more crispy breading than the standard schnitzel. It is customarily served with lemon, French fries, and a variety of boiled vegetables. Another Iranian dish, '' kotlet'' ( fa, کتلت), should not be confused with ''shenitsel''. They are small, oval-shaped patties made by deep-frying a mix of ground meat, onion, potato, and herbs.

Israel

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

the dish ( he, שניצל, ''shnitsel'') is a popular food in Israeli cuisine. The meat is typically

or turkey breast, in conformance with dietary

kashrut (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fr ...

laws, which prohibit pork. Additionally,

vegetable oil Vegetable oils, or vegetable fats, are oils extracted from seeds or from other parts of fruits. Like animal fats, vegetable fats are ''mixtures'' of triglycerides. Soybean oil, grape seed oil, and cocoa butter are examples of seed oils, or f ...

s are use for the frying, as

clarified butter Clarified butter is milk fat rendered from butter to separate the milk solids and water from the butterfat. Typically, it is produced by melting butter and allowing the components to separate by density. The water evaporates, some solids (i.e. ...

, the preferred cooking fat for Austrian ''Wiener schnitzel'', is impermissible for

kosher (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fro ...

use alongside meat. Before frying, the schnitzel is coated with a mixture of beaten eggs and bread crumbs, sometimes spiced with

paprika Paprika ( US , ; UK , ) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from '' Capsicum annuum'' varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder ...

sesame Sesame ( or ; ''Sesamum indicum'') is a flowering plant in the genus ''Sesamum'', also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cul ...

seeds. It is usually served with mashed potatoes, French fries, rice, or pasta, accompanied by ketchup,

hummus Hummus (, ; ar, حُمُّص, 'chickpeas'; full Arabic name: ''ḥummuṣ bi-ṭ-ṭaḥīna'' ar, حمص بالطحينة, 'chickpeas with tahini'), also spelled hommus or houmous, is a Middle Eastern dip, spread, or savory dish made f ...

, or vegetable salad. The schnitzel tradition was brought from Europe to

Ashkenazi Jews Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...

. During the early years of the state of Israel, veal was not obtainable,Archived a
Ghostarchive
and th
Wayback Machine
and chicken or turkey proved to be inexpensive and tasty substitutes. Packaged schnitzels are widely available in the frozen food section of most supermarkets. Some frozen schnitzels are breaded patties made from processed chicken or turkey meat, not whole poultry breasts. One can also find in the frozen food section Israeli corn schniztels alongside other vegan options. Schnitzel is also sold in a

pita Pita ( or ) or pitta (British English), is a family of yeast-leavened round flatbreads baked from wheat flour, common in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and neighboring areas. It includes the widely known version with an interior pocket, also ...

, alongside

, French fries and vegetable salad, in a similar way to

falafel Falafel (; ar, فلافل, ) is a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter in Middle Eastern cuisine (especially in Levantine and Egyptian cuisines) made from ground chickpeas, broad beans, or both. Nowadays, falafel is often served ...

. Many falafel stands also offer a schnitzel in a pita.

Lebanon

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...

, the dish is normally called escalope. Escalope is a French term and is a broader category of beaten, breaded meat of which Schnitzel is a type of. While schnitzels are fried, escalopes need not be, even though it most commonly is. Lebanon likely adopted the French term during the French mandate period of Lebanon.

Turkey

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

, the dish is spelled schnitzelm, şinitzel, or şnitzel and pronounced in a similar way to German. It is made of chicken, and is usually served with rice, French fries, or pasta. Sometimes, it may have grilled cheese in it. It is often cooked at home, as it is an easy-to-do kind of food, but some restaurants have it on their menus.

North America

Canada

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

, Schnitzel is often referred to simply as Veal Cutlet or Chicken Cutlet, breaded and fried. Often with Italian tomato sauce, parmigiana cheese or mozzarella cheese. It is often topped with red peppers and it is very commonly served as a sandwich.

Mexico

Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...

, Schnitzel is commonly referred to as milanesa. Milanesas are eaten in some regions, often in a '' torta'' (a sandwich made with ''

bolillo A ''bolillo'' () (in Mexico) or ''pan francés'' (in Central America) (meaning "French bread") is a type of savory bread made in Mexico and Central America. It is a variation of the baguette, but shorter in length and is often baked in a stone ...

'' or ''telera'' bread). In northern

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...

Sinaloa Sinaloa (), officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sinaloa), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and ...

, and

Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to: Places * Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state **Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state **Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state **Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state **Chihuahua Mu ...

(due to U.S influence), it features lettuce,

tomato The tomato is the edible berry of the plant ''Solanum lycopersicum'', commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western South America, Mexico, and Central America. The Mexican Nahuatl word gave rise to the Spanish word ...

, and

mayonnaise Mayonnaise (; ), colloquially referred to as "mayo" , is a thick, cold, and creamy sauce or dressing commonly used on sandwiches, hamburgers, composed salads, and French fries. It also forms the base for various other sauces, such as tarta ...

like a traditional sandwich, but the milanesa is also common in these regions as the main course of a meal. The milanesa ''memela napolitana'' is made with a thick fried

tortilla A tortilla (, ) is a thin, circular unleavened flatbread originally made from maize hominy meal, and now also from wheat flour. The Aztecs and other Nahuatl speakers called tortillas ''tlaxcalli'' (). First made by the indigenous peoples of M ...

with a milanesa on top, with ham, tomato sauce and grated cheese. In Mexico, milanesa usually refers to the preparation method; any type of meat that is pounded thin, breaded and fried might be referred to as a milanesa. In the northern state of Nuevo León, perhaps due to the influence of German and Czech immigrants, the dish known as milanesa is extremely popular and stands on its own as a main dish in most restaurants. It is usually served with

french fries French fries (North American English), chips (British English), finger chips (Indian English), french-fried potatoes, or simply fries, are '' batonnet'' or ''allumette''-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin from Belgium and France. Th ...

, refried beans,

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...

, and a lettuce salad.

United States

Fried cutlets are a popular convenience meal; they can be purchased pre-cooked and frozen, and heated at home. The pork tenderloin sandwich, popular in the Midwest, is made from a breaded pork tenderloin and is very similar to schnitzel.

Chicken fried steak Chicken-fried steak, also known as country-fried steak or CFS, is an American breaded cutlet dish consisting of a piece of beefsteak (most often tenderized cube steak) coated with seasoned flour and either deep-fried or pan-fried. It is sometim ...

, also called country fried steak, is nearly identical to schnitzel. It is a breaded and deep fried

steak. The beef is a generally a shoulder or a round cut, rather than an expensive loin or rib steak. It is usually served with white

Oceania

Australia

Beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). In prehistoric times, humankind hunted aurochs and later domesticated them. Since that time, numerous breeds of cattle have been bred specifically for the quality or quantit ...

(which may be

) and

schnitzel are both very popular dishes in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

, particularly in pubs where they are among the most widely available meals. Chicken schnitzel (less so beef) is also sold at many take-away establishments. Schnitzel in Australia is often served in the form of parmigiana, which is a schnitzel topped with Italian tomato sauce, cheese, and occasionally ham. At pubs, schnitzel is typically accompanied by chips (

French fries French fries (North American English), chips (British English), finger chips (Indian English), french-fried potatoes, or simply fries, are '' batonnet'' or ''allumette''-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin from Belgium and France. Th ...

salad A salad is a dish consisting of mixed, mostly natural ingredients with at least one raw ingredient. They are typically served at room temperature or chilled, though some can be served warm. Condiments and salad dressings, which exist in a va ...

, and sometimes

bacon Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork made from various cuts, typically the belly or less fatty parts of the back. It is eaten as a side dish (particularly in breakfasts), used as a central ingredient (e.g., the bacon, lettuce, and tomato sand ...

. Plain and parmigiana schnitzels are sometimes respectively known by colloquial names "Schnitty", "Schnitter", "Parma", or "Parmi".

South America

Argentina and Uruguay

In Argentina and Uruguay, this dish, called '' milanesa'', consists of a thin slice of beef, chicken, veal, or sometimes pork, and even eggplant or soy. Each slice is dipped into beaten eggs, seasoned with salt, and other ingredients according to the cook's taste (like parsley and garlic). Each slice is then dipped in bread crumbs (or occasionally flour) and shallow-fried in oil, one at a time. Some people prefer to use very little oil and then bake them in the oven as a healthier alternative.

Brazil

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, such preparations, designated ''à milanesa'' (

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...

ese-style), are quite common, especially in the more European-influenced southern region of the country. The meats of choice are beef or chicken, while veal and pork are relatively rare.

Colombia

''Schnitzel'' presentations are called ''chuleta'' in

. They are composed of flat pieces of chicken, veal, or mostly pork, covered with flour, and then deep-fried. The ''chuleta'' is a traditional dish of the Valle del Cauca region.

Similar foods

Other variants of the schnitzel, not all necessarily made with a bread crumb crust, include: *'' Escalope'': A piece of boneless meat that has been thinned out using a mallet, rolling pin, or beaten with the handle of a knife, or merely 'butterflied'. Although it is usually a thinner cut of meat than found in a schnitzel, the meat of an escalope is also usually coated with flour, beaten eggs and bread crumbs, and then fried. *'' Cordon bleu'': "Blue ribbon" is a thinly pounded piece of meat stuffed with

cheese Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During productio ...

and ham. *''Valdostana'': Very similar to the cordon bleu, but cheese and ham are not inside but on the top. This dish is from an alpine region in Italy, the

Val d'Aosta , Valdostan or Valdotainian it, Valdostano (man) it, Valdostana (woman)french: Valdôtain (man)french: Valdôtaine (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = Official languages , population_blank1 = Italian French ...

. *

Chicken Kiev Chicken Kiev (russian: котлета по-киевски, translit=kotleta po-kiyevski; uk, котлета по-київськи, translit=kotleta po-kyivsky),The common English name for the dish uses the transliteration "Kiev", derived from ...

is unpounded chicken breast rolled around butter and sometimes garlic, then breaded and cooked in a manner similar to ''Cordon Bleu''. *'' Milanesa Napolitana'': This River Plate variant, very popular in Argentina and Uruguay, is made from a beef schnitzel topped with ham, marinara sauce (tomato and garlic), and local mozzarella, then grilled to melt the cheese, usually served with French fries (British - chips). *Singapore

Hainanese Hainanese ( Hainan Romanised: ', Hainanese Pinyin: ',), also known as Qióngwén, Heng2 vun2 () or Qióngyǔ, Heng2 yi2 (), is a group of Min Chinese varieties spoken in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan and Overseas Chinese su ...

pork chop: Served in a gravy with tomatoes, potato wedges, onions and peas, it can be enjoyed with steamed rice and chilli sauce. *'' Piccata'' is breaded meat like schnitzel. * Chicken fingers are chicken breast strips breaded and fried similar to schnitzel. *

is a piece of cube steak coated with seasoned flour, and pan-fried. Popular in the southern United States, it is typically served covered in white

. *''

Parmo Parmo, or Teesside Parmesan, is a dish originating in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, and a popular item of take-away food in the Teesside area. It consists of a breaded cutlet of chicken or pork topped with a white béchamel sauce and cheese ...

'' is popular in north-east England, particularly

; it is covered in bechamel sauce and served with chips and salad. *''( Cotoletta alla) Milanese'' A dish very similar to the Wiener schnitzel, but fried in butter instead of vegetable oil.

Gallery

File:Wiener Schnitzel!.jpg, ''Wiener schnitzel'' from veal, as served in Vienna File:Wiener Schnitzel at Gasthaus Joainig (lightened).jpg, A ''Wiener schnitzel'' served in

Carinthia Carinthia (german: Kärnten ; sl, Koroška ) is the southernmost Austrian state, in the Eastern Alps, and is noted for its mountains and lakes. The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Bavarian group. Carin ...

, Austria File:Chicken schnitzel with fries and salad.jpg, Chicken schnitzel with fries and salad File:Schnitzel platter.jpg, Schnitzel platter consisting of veal, pork, and chicken schnitzels, served with mashed potatoes, beetroot, mushroom cream sauce and side salad File:Swiss schnitzel.jpg, Swiss schnitzel, served with french fries and side salad File:Surf and turf schnitzel.jpg, Surf and turf schnitzel: a chicken schnitzel topped with prawns and served with french fries File:Cordon-bleu-2.jpg, A cordon bleu schnitzel

References

External links

* * {{Wiktionary inline, schnitzel Austrian cuisine Breaded cutlets German cuisine Meat dishes Romani cuisine World cuisine