Eastern European Kotlety
During my upbringing, my Polish-Russian grandmother, a resident in our household, frequently prepared these petite meat patties, which became a beloved family dish. Here's my interpretation, based on the memories of cooking with Grandma, as she never documented the recipe. The patties were consistently served alongside mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, and, naturally, an ample supply of ketchup for the patties.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ pounds lean ground beef
- ⅔ cup milk cracker crumbs
- 1 small sweet yellow onion, minced
- 1 egg, well beaten
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 clove garlic, minced (Optional)
- 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup vegetable shortening for frying
Instructions
- Mix ground beef, cracker crumbs, onion, egg, milk, garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until evenly blended. Shape meat mixture into twelve 3-inch patties about 1 1/4-inch thick.
- Heat vegetable shortening in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear patties until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking, uncovered, until patties are no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes more. Remove patties from skillet and drain on paper towels until ready to serve.
Notes
- Grandma used to make these with Nabisco Royal Lunch Milk crackers, but they have been discontinued for some years now. Instead, I use Heritage Mills Classic Lunch Milk crackers (made in Canada) which I purchase at my local Demoulas Market Basket store. However, any other similar milk cracker may be used in this recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 338kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 22gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 620mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg
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