Lemon and thyme pork schnitzel

This light crispy pork dish is a taste treat, with the lemon and herbs adding plenty of zing.  It is a slight variation on the classic Wiener schnitzel and is worthy of a place on any Viennese table.  It also makes a couple of pork steaks go a long way.

Preparation Time: 15 mk

Cooking Time: 5 Mins

Total Time: 20 Mins

Ingredients

For 4 servings…

2                    Pork steaks  - loin     

                     Pepper  - freshly ground, black  

                     Salt          

2 tbs               Flour        

1                    Egg  - beaten          

75 gms            Breadcrumbs  - dried white      

½                   Lemon  - grated zest of          

15 gms            Parmesan cheese  - grated finely

1 tbs               Thyme  - fresh leaves

                     Oil           

To garnish

1 bunch            Watercress

To drizzle

                     Olive oil     

Method

Place a pork loin steak between 2 sheets of clingfilm and strike it with a meat mallet until it is about 1cm thick all over.  Remove the clingfilm and cut the flattened steak in half lengthways, then prepare the other steak in the same way.  Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper.

Put the beaten egg in a shallow bowl.  Sprinkle the flour on to a plate.  Mix the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, Parmesan, thyme and a good pinch of salt in a shallow bowl.

Take a piece of the pork and dredge it in flour, then dip it into the beaten egg, and lastly in the breadcrumb mixture until it is completely coated.  Repeat with the other pieces of pork.

Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 180°C.  Add 2 of the schnitzels to the pan and fry for 5 minutes or until the pork is cooked through and the coating is crisp and golden brown.

Remove them from the pan and set aside on a warmed plate lined with kitchen paper.  Keep them warm while you cook the other 2 schnitzels.

Serve garnished with watercress and drizzled with a little olive oil.

Wine recommendations

An aromatic white wine.

Conventional

     Riesling

Interesting

     Arbois blanc

     Beaujolais