Milanese, named for the city of Milan, Italy

Have you ever been to Italy, more specifically Milan, Italy? Milan is located in northern Italy 

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We haven't been to Milan, but we do know about cooking in the style of Milan.  It is known as Milanese. In Italian this is called cotoletta alla milanese which is named after the city of Milan. 

cotoletta alla milanese

In Portugual, this dish includes beef, and is called bife a milanesa. 

bife a milanesa

In Austria a similar dish made with pork is called wiener schnitzel.  A specialty of Pam's (Prickly Pear 2)

wiener schnitzel

In Argentina, Spain, Paraguay, and Uruguay milanesa is served with fried or mashed potatoes. This is called milanesa con papas fritas.

milanesa con papas fritas

In Chile, milanese is served with melted cheese between a layer of beef and ham which is called escapola. 

escapola

In Mexico and the southern United States, milanese is eaten often in a torta (sandwich style). This sandwich is made with thick fried tortilla and is called milanesa memela napolitana. In Nuevo Leon, in North Eastern Mexico, it is usually served with french fires, refried beans, rice and lettuce salad. 

milanesa memela napolitana

And in the childhood home the 2 Prickly Pears often ate pork chops breaded from crushed saltine crackers and fried in butter. We didn't have a fancy name for them. We simply called them breaded pork chop. We surely didn't know we were cooking in the style of Milan! We can still smell them cooking!!

breaded pork chops

Milanese basically means cooking with butter instead of cooking oil. The use of butter adds a distinctive flavor to the cuisine; namely, a richness. When uses this culinary style, it is implied that the main ingredient is coated or dipped in eggs and breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese and then sautéed in butter. Major ingredient in this cuisine is fish, but veal, chicken, and sometimes pork are also common for an entrée.

Now it's time to get cooking.  Today's Recipe is Fish alla Milanese.  This is an easy, extremely tasty way to make lovely fish.  Find a good, firm white fish, like cod or haddock.  Catfish works well, if it is very fresh.  That's our fish for today.

Fish alla Milanese with Lemon Butter Sauce

What you need for the Lemon Butter Sauce:

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1 Tablespoon minced shallots

2 Tablespoons white wine

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 lb cold butter cut in 1/4 inch pieces

1 pinch of salt

What you need to do:

Add garlic, shallots, wine and lemon juice to small pan.  Cook over medium heat until mixture is reduced by half.  Turn burner on low and slowly add butter, whisking continuously until all butter is melted.  Strain mixture.  Pour in small bowls for serving or pour directly over your fish.

What you need for the Milanese:

1 lb fish filet 

2 eggs whisked

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

1 Tablespoon organic seasoning salt.

4-6 Tablespoons butter

What you need to do:

Cut the fish filet in serving size pieces, if needed.  Whisk eggs in first bowl. Put flour in second bowl. Mix bread crumbs and seasoning salt in third bowl.  First dredge your filets in the flour, then coat with egg.  Make sure the entire filet is coated with egg.  Then dredge filet in bread crumbs.  Press the bread crumbs on each filet coating complete.

Melt butter in saute pan over medium heat.  Make sure the butter only melts, but doesn't turn brown.  Check heat as necessary.  Place coated fish filets in pan and brown both sides.  remember to make sure your heat is only hot enough to brown the filets.  Fish is done when it is flaky. Place filets on wrack or paper toweling to drain.

Place fish on serving plate and pour the lemon butter sauce on each piece.  If you prefer, serve the sauce in small bowls and your guests can take as much or as little as they like.

Any one can cook the style of Milan, Italy.  Pick the kind of entre you like and go for it.  It is not difficult and well worth trusting this method of cooking.

Now go out and make something good!