Zagrebački Odrezak (Zagreb Ham and Cheese Schnitzel)
Local name: Zagrebački odrezak
In short: A veal cutlet folded around ham and melting cheese, coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden, a classic of the Croatian capital. It takes about 42 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 42 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 665 kcal
Zagrebački odrezak is the pride of the Croatian capital: a large, thin veal cutlet folded around ham and cheese, then breaded and fried until the coating shatters and the cheese oozes. It appears on menus and Sunday tables all over continental Croatia. Serve it with fried or boiled potatoes, a tomato salad and a wedge of lemon.
Instructions
- Cut each cutlet horizontally almost through and open it like a book. Pound between sheets of plastic wrap to an even thickness of about 6 mm (1/4 in). Season both sides with the salt and pepper.
- Lay a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on one half of each cutlet, fold the other half over and press the edges together. Secure with toothpicks if needed.
- Put the flour, beaten eggs and breadcrumbs in three shallow dishes. Coat each cutlet in flour, then egg, then crumbs, pressing the crumbs on firmly. Chill for 15 minutes.
- Heat 1 cm (1/2 in) of oil in a large skillet to 170°C (340°F). Fry the cutlets for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until deep golden and cooked through to 63°C (145°F) at the center.
- Drain on a rack, remove the toothpicks and serve at once with lemon wedges.
Tips
- Pork loin cutlets or chicken breast also work. Cook chicken to 74°C (165°F), and pound everything to the same thickness so it cooks evenly.
- Chill the breaded cutlets for 15 minutes so the coating sticks, and keep the oil at 170°C (340°F) so they fry rather than soak. Pressing the edges firmly keeps the cheese from leaking.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between Zagreb schnitzel and cordon bleu?
They are close cousins: both are cutlets filled with ham and cheese, breaded and fried. Zagrebački odrezak is traditionally made from one large veal cutlet folded around the filling.
Can I bake it instead of frying?
Yes. Drizzle the breaded cutlets with oil and bake at 220°C (425°F) for 18 to 20 minutes, turning once. The crust will be a little less rich.
Can I prepare it ahead?
Bread the cutlets up to 6 hours ahead and keep them chilled, then fry just before serving. Raw breaded cutlets also freeze well for up to 2 months.
How long does it take to make Zagrebački Odrezak (Zagreb Ham and Cheese Schnitzel)?
About 42 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Zagrebački Odrezak (Zagreb Ham and Cheese Schnitzel)?
About 665 kcal per serving, with 51 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 665 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 51 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 1250 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
