The name milanesa steak might come to you as a surprise, and you may think it is something different from the Milanese cutlets, but let me correct you and say that both milanesa steak and the Milanese cutlets are simply the same thing with different names.
But what is milanesa steak?
Milanese or milanesa is a kind of breaded meat and simply refers to dredging thin pieces of meat in eggs and bread crumbs, which can later be fried.
Milanesa steak initially originated from Italy and was later brought to South America when many people migrated to the United States.
Although the real milanesa steak comes from the loin section of the veil, it can be taken from any other type of meat as well such as chicken, fish, or even pork.
However, regardless of where the steak is coming from, it should always be cut into thin slices.
So, let’s find out more about milanesa steak.
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How To Make The Perfect Milanesa Steak
Milanese steak is among those dishes which require special attention to the tiny details during the cooking process.
If you are particular about all the necessary details, then milanesa steak will not only turn out to be delicious, but it will also be amazing to eat.
Let me first tell you how the perfect milanesa steak is prepared and what it should taste like.
Milanesa steak requires high and correct breading, and later on, it should be fried traditionally without any variation to taste just like milanesa rather than anything else.
Bone Is a Must
Since the milanesa steak comes from the beef loin, do not simply remove the bone attached to it if you want to make the authentic milanesa steak.
The cut of meat coming from loin is considered very tender, and they have a very delicate flavor, not only that but the presence of bone simply adds to its taste and texture.
The bone is also breaded along with the cut of meat, and it will be fried too.
Sometimes the milanesa curls while it is being cooked, so it is advised to make few cuts in the steak but make sure they are not deep.
Another useful tip is to remove the excessive fat attached to the bone with the help of a sharp knife. The fat must be removed before the bone is actually breaded.
Breading Needs Special Care
One of the biggest mistakes made by many people while making milanesa steak is that they think the more the ingredients in the breading, the better it is, but this is not the case.
Authentic and traditional milanesa steak is breaded only in eggs and breadcrumbs. Yes, only eggs and breadcrumbs; you do not need to add anything else, not even salt and pepper.
To bread the slice of milanesa steak, just dip it in beaten eggs and let any excess egg drain from it; draining is particularly important so that the flavor of eggs does not overcome the original taste of the milanesa steak.
Once the slice is all covered in egg, coat it with breadcrumbs.
You can buy readymade breadcrumbs or alternatively mince the bread in the mixer to make crumbs at home.
If you do not have a mixer at home, then you can simply press the bread with the palms of your hands to make crumbs.
Please make sure that the edges of the steak are also covered with crumbs.
Covering the steak equally in bread crumbs will ensure an even color of the milanesa steak as the entire surface of the steak will be covered with crumbs.
Always Fry In Clarified Butter
I have seen people frying milanesa steak in oil which is absolutely against the tradition.
Milanesa steak is meant to be cooked in clarified butter only. Using an alternative like extra virgin olive oil or any other seed oil will only ruin the taste of milanesa steak.
When you are cooking this steak, you have no choice to think about cholesterol or extra calories; all you need to care about is the recipe’s authenticity.
It is recommended to use a nonstick pan that has high sides for cooking milanesa steak.
Once you have the pan, put some butter in and let it come to a temperature high enough to cook milanesa steak.
Be careful about the temperature as milanesa steaks are cooked on medium heat.
On medium heat, one slice takes around 15 minutes to cook, and you should turn the side of the steak only once and that too in the middle of the cooking.
Ensure not to cook milanesa steak for more than 15 minutes as it is enough time to cook slices around 2cm thick.
A perfectly cooked steak slice would be crisp from the outside while juicy and succulent from the inside.
Drain Excessive Butter From Milanesa Steak
After the milanesa steak has been fried, drain any excess butter with the help of absorbent kitchen paper.
One important tip to note is never to cover the milanesa steak. Otherwise, they will no longer remain crispy and will become soft.
Another important tip is to sprinkle salt only when you are about to serve rather than salting before.
This is because salting the milanesa steak, which has not been dried properly, will ruin the breading. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the steaks in the oven until you are ready to serve them.
Do Not Serve With Vegetables
Milanesa steak is not a traditional steak, and it is never served with vegetables.
Instead, it is full of delicious flavors and is a rich dish in itself that does not require any other vegetables or ingredients to make it a complete meal.
What Are Other Names For Milanesa In English?
Milanesa steak is also sometimes called breaded beef or breaded steak, which very much describes its type of being breaded in egg and bread crumbs. Some people also call it breaded fried steak.
Can Milanesa Steak Be Cooked In An Air Fryer
Yes, you can cook milanesa steak in an air fryer, but they may not turn out to be as crispy as they become with frying.
If you want to cook it in an air fryer, then simply set the temperature to 390 degrees and let the steak cook for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, turn the side of the steak and cook it for another 10 minutes, but this time at a slightly lower temperature of 300 degrees.
However, be careful if you are cooking in an air fryer for the first time, as different electrical devices cook differently.
How To Make Chicken Milanesa Steak
Cooking chicken milanesa steak is a simple process, and the cut of meat used for chicken steak is a breast piece.
Following is the step by step procedure to make chicken milanesa steak.
Step 1
Cut the breast piece horizontally through its center into two slices with the help of a sharp knife.
Step 2
Place the pieces inside a plastic wrap and softly pound the breast piece slices to convert them into flat cutlets.
Pounding chicken ensures smooth cooking of chicken. Always remember that the use of plastic wrap is essential to avoid any mess on the top of the kitchen counter.
Step 3
Take three different bowls, fill one bowl with flour, the second bowl with beaten eggs, and the third bowl with parmesan breadcrumbs.
First, coat the chicken slices in flour, then in eggs, and finally, coat them with breadcrumbs.
Step 4
Your chicken milanesa steak slices are now ready to be cooked. If you do not want to cook them immediately, then you can put them in the refrigerator to be cooked later.
For cooking, heat the butter in a nonstick pan and fry the steak slices for about 5 minutes on each side or until the crumbs become golden brown.
Step 5
Dab the steak slices with kitchen absorbent paper to remove all excessive butter and let the steak dry.
Always keep the steaks in a warm place such as an oven until you are about to serve them.
Nutritional Facts About Milanesa Steak
One serving of milanesa steak, which is usually somewhere around 112 grams, contains 26 grams of proteins, 3 grams of fat, 1 gm of saturated fat, and 65 gm of cholesterol.
It also has sodium and iron in it; there is around 2.7 mg of iron and 60 mg of sodium in one serving of milanesa steak.
Milanesa steak is more like a cutlet and is served like a cutlet too.
Any leftovers of the milanesa steak can be heated at a later point and used in pasta or sandwiches.
Alternatively, they can also be used in different types of salads to make them more versatile and flavorful.
However, I would highly recommend you to follow the steps mentioned in this post to get the taste of traditional authentic milanesa steak, which is far more delicious and crispy than any other variations being followed these days.
After you have cooked the steak, do not forget to share your experience with me!
