I was reluctant to cook schnitzel for many years always sending Mr SC home to his mum for Schnitzel on Sunday so I didn't have to face a pan of molten butter... but since we now live 3 flights away from my mother in law, it is no longer feasible to send him home on Sunday for his schnitzel fix. So now I find myself cooking schnitzel the way he grew up eating it but served on the other side of the world. No matter how hard I try to suggest other accompaniments, Mr SC insists that the only way to eat schnitzel is with pea rice and Styrian* salad.
Schnitzel with Pea Rice and Styrian Salad
400 grams Chicken/Beef/Veal Schnitzel (veal is my favourite when its in season)
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon Salt
Flour
Bread Crumbs
200g Butter
150g EVO
1 Cos Lettuce
2 tablespoons Pumpkinseed Oil
3 tablespoons Apple Vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Basmati Rice
100g Frozen Peas
Season the schnitzels with salt
Dredge each schnitzel in flour (I always do this step separately as it helps save you from crumbing your fingers!) and shake off excess
Dip each schnitzel in the egg wash then dredge in breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 75 degrees
Cook rice according to instructions, adding 100g of frozen peas to the uncooked rice before cooking
Heat the butter and oil in a shallow pan till very hot (test by flicking in a few breadcrumbs and ensure they sizzle immediately)
Fry the schnitzels for two minutes on each side in batches, keeping the cooked schnitzels warm in the preheated oven
Wash and chop the lettuce, add salt, oil and vinegar and toss to combine
Serve the salad, rice and schnitzel with some lemon slices
* Styria is an Austrian state located in the southeast of the country. It is famous within Austria for its "Black Gold", also know as Styrian pumpkinseed oil. The oils place of origin is protected by the EU like other more internationally famous delicacies including Roquefort and Prosciutto di Parma. Pumpkinseed oil brings a deliciously nutty flavour to the dish and is traditionally combined with apple vinegar to dress lettuce amongst other more creative uses including drizzling over pumpkin soup or vanilla ice-cream! Should you get a green stain from the oil then put the fabric in direct sunlight to breakdown the stain.