Breaded Pan-Fried Steak, Argentine Style

By Liz Caskey, cookbook author, wine expert and author of Eat Wine

I want to apologize for my disappearance from the blogosphere these past two weeks. I have been on the road in Chile with clients and later in Mendoza, Argentina scouting what’s new, and tasting wines, of course. I normally try to stay up to date but I was overwhelmed and honestly, sitting at the feet of the Andes, at some point, I realized how delicious it is to not turn on my laptop. Just feel the sun on my face, the cool breeze, the rustling of cottonwood trees, and hearing birds sing.

While in Argentina, I remembered how much they l-o-v-e milanesas, breaded, pan fried steaks for lunch or dinner. You can get them at nearly ever market, butcher shop, supermarket, or the best, make them at home. I thought I would share this recipe with you from our new cookbook, South American Cooking. Pop open up a juicy Malbec and you have all the fixings for an easy, weeknight dinner. Cheers and see you soon. Les prometo.

Here goes the recipe…

A crisp crust and flavorful coating make these steaks a favorite throughout the region

Milanesa is a wildly popular meat dish throughout South America, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Beef fillet is breaded with a flavorful coating and pan-fried till golden. It was brought to the continent by central European immigrants and is very similar to the Austrian Wiener schnitzel.

Milanesas can be made with steak, veal, chicken, or even vegetarian with soy. The protein is dipped into eggs and then patted with the bread crumb crust and shallow-fried. Milanesas are often served with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or salad as accompaniments and make for quick, healthy lunches.

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

3 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2–1 cup oil, for frying

Place the flour on a plate, the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl, and the bread crumbs on another plate. Combine the bread crumbs with, garlic, salt, and pepper.

To assemble, season steaks with salt and pepper and dredge them in flour. Pass through eggs and cover with bread crumbs, patting so they stick. Shake to remove excess.

Heat oil in skillet and sear on both sides until golden, about 4 minutes.

Cooking Tips

Pan-Fry the Steak

• Use a large enough pan for 3 or 4 steaks. Be sure it is completely coated with oil.
• Add new oil between batches.
• Keep heat on medium-high to sear but not overcook and dry out the thin meat.
• Serve immediately to maintain crisp texture.

Make it Easy: Milanesas freeze well and are a terrific quick dish to prepare in minutes. Make a large batch and freeze between wax paper sheets. When frozen solid, wrap in aluminum foil and keep up to two months. To cook, simply heat the oil and cook them frozen.

Variation

Neapolitan Style: Dip 4 thinly sliced steak fillets in 2 beaten eggs. Dredge in bread crumbs and shake. Heat 2 tablespoons oil and pan-fry until golden on both sides. Remove from pan. Spoon 2 tablespoons pizza or tomato sauce onto the milanesa and cover with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with oregano and broil for 5 minutes until bubbling.

Editor’s note: This recipe is from Liz’s book Knack South American Cooking, by Globe Pequot Press. To learn more about Liz’s culinary and wine tours in Chile, Argentina and Uruguary, visit Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences at www.lizcaskey.com.