Pickle-Brined Schnitzel with Everything Slaw is your dinner tonight!
Schnitzel in the morning, schnitzel in the evening, schnitzel at supper time. When chicken is brined in pickle juice you can have schnitzel anytime!
True story. I had this schnitzel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s quick, easy, but so tasty. With briny, moist chicken and a tangy slaw. And after a weekend winery hopping (so fun), it was exactly what I needed.
I had some tasty schnitzel in Prague with a horseradish slaw on the side, so inspired by that combo, I made everything bagel slaw (of course!) My new and forever favorite spice. A squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mustard or spicy mustard and dinner is served.
Schnitzel history (schnitzeltry?) starts off in Austria as veal, and moved to Israel as we moved there and became chicken! Cheaper and still kosher. Oftentimes fried chicken is brined in buttermilk to tenderize, but that’s not exactly kosher. So I took a nod to my favorite snack, and brined mine in pickle juice! Whoa. The result was super tender, flavorful schnitzel. And an excuse to eat all the pickles!
What else can I brine in pickle juice???
While your chicken is brining, you can whip up your slaw. Easy! Red onion, apple cider vinegar, EVERYTHING BAGEL SPICE! Fry, baby, fry and dinner is served!
Who is coming over for dinner? (Me! Pick me!)
Pickle-Brined Schnitzel with Everything Slaw
Ingredients
- For Pickle-Brined Schnitzel
- 2 large chicken breasts about 1.5 pounds
- 1 cup pickle juice
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg whisked
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs or matzah meal!
- 1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Spice
- Kosher salt
- Oil for frying
- Lemon wedges <g class="gr_ gr_128 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="128" data-gr-id="128">pickles</g> and cilantro or parsley for garnish
- For Everything Slaw:
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 2 tablespoons red onions diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro diced
- 1/2 tablespoon white sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Spice or to taste
Instructions
- Place a large piece of plastic wrap on a counter or cutting board and place the chicken breasts down, spaced a few inches apart.
- Cover chicken with more plastic wrap and pound to about 1/4 inch thin with a mallet or heavy pan. Take out your anger!
- Put pounded chicken in a medium bowl and pour pickle juice on top. Toss chicken in juice and refrigerate for 30 minutes, rotating a few times.
- While chicken is brining, make the slaw!
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate flavors.
- When the chicken is ready, dry well.
- Put the flour, whisked egg and Panko each in separate shallow bowls. Season the flour with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and season the Panko with 1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Spice.
- Heat 1/2 inch oil in a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat until 375 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, coat each chicken breast in flour, shake it off, then egg, <g class="gr_ gr_121 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="121" data-gr-id="121">drip</g> it off, then Panko. Use alternative hands for the dry and wet <g class="gr_ gr_122 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="122" data-gr-id="122">dipping</g> so your hands stay clean-ish!
- Fry chicken breasts in oil 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Blot fried chicken on a paper towel and serve hot with slaw and garnishes.
Jim D says
why not veal, especially in Prague? Or Munich?
Amy Kritzer says
They had veal there! But I like making chicken!
RIDA DEITCH says
BRINING THE CHICKEN SOUNDS GOOD, I BOYCOTT THE VEAL PPL. BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVE THE PICKLES, DO YOU HAVE A GOOD RECIPE (NO VINEGAR) HUGS RIDA
Amy Kritzer says
Thanks, Rida! I love pickles too, with vinegar though!
Laripu says
I love making chicken schnitzel. But panko? Feh. The best breading for chicken schnitzel is matzoh meal.
Keep the panko for tempura.
Amy Kritzer says
Matzah meal is a great option too!!
Beverley Press says
oh my goodness this is just schnitzel Heaven! Very nice variation on the cole slaw. thank you
Amy Kritzer says
Yay thank you!
Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says
This was amazing! Turned out perfectly. Completely delicious and the amount of slaw was just right. This is going on our regular roster. I’ll probably make it every time we finish a jar of pickled! LOL
Amy Kritzer says
Wonderful! Ha I’d make it every week then!