BEEF CUTLETS

Beef Croquettes, also famously known as Beef Cutlets, is a favorite among all the meat lovers, especially in my hometown Kerala, India. This flavorful snack is a sure to find in any bakery and is one among the most sold-out tea snacks or appetizers!

A cutlet is a palm sized deep fried patty with a stuffed filling coated in breadcrumbs.  The filling is usually made with meat, fish or vegetables. The joy of eating a beef cutlet starts right from the moment you lay your eyes on it; the beauty of the uniformly shaped brown patty; the softness when you hold it; and finally, when you take a bite, the whole experience of the crispy outer crust, spongy soft filling, and the spicy, peppery, meaty, overload of flavours. This along with a hot cup of tea…… Yum!!!

Enjoy these beef cutlets with a side of tomato ketchup, Happy Cooking…!

Ingredients

• 500 gms. Beef mince
• 1 tbsp. Meat masala
• 1 tsp. Black pepper powder
• ¼ tsp. Turmeric powder
• 1 large Onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 Green chilies, finely chopped
• ½ inch Garlic, minced
• ½ inch sized Ginger, minced
• 2 sprigs of Curry leaves, roughly chopped
• 2 Potatoes, medium sized
• 1 cup Breadcrumbs
• 2 whole Eggs or Egg whites
• Oil, for deep-frying
• Salt, as required

Method

• Pressure cook potatoes with a little water and salt for 2 whistles, drain, mash it and keep aside.
• To prepare the filling, heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onions with little salt and sauté until it turns golden brown. Next add chopped ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves.
• Add turmeric powder, meat masala and pepper powder, and sauté on a low flame for 5 minutes so that it all blends well. Next add beef mince to the mixture and mix well. Allow it to cook properly.
• Add mashed potatoes to the cooked mix and mix thoroughly.
• Turn off the flame and place the lid on the pan, allow it to rest.
• Beat eggs in a small bowl and keep aside. You can also substitute whole eggs with egg whites.
• In another bowl take breadcrumbs; either use ready made breadcrumbs, or you can prepare breadcrumbs by toasting any bread and then grinding it in a mixer.
• Make palm sized patties out of the prepared meat filling. Prepare the pan by heating oil in a low flame for deep frying the cutlets.
• Dip each patty in the egg batter and then coat with breadcrumbs and carefully drop into the frying pan. Deep fry until golden brown. Do not crowd the pan, ensure there is ample space between each patty as it gets fried.
• Once the patties are done, transfer them on to a paper towel to drain out the excess oil.
• Serve hot with tomato ketchup.