Cutlet is one of the most popular dishes in the world, having a huge number of variations in different countries. Therefore, for sure, many will be interested to know not only how many calories in the cutlet, but also where this meat dish comes from. We’ll talk about this today.
From Paris with love
Like many other famous dishes, the cutlet owes its appearance to French culinary specialists. Now this may seem strange, but translating from French the word “cutlet” we get a “rib”. This is because before this dish was prepared using beef or pork ribs, placing them in the middle of the patties. So it was much easier to eat hot meat, because cutlery appeared much later.
Later, with the advent of forks and knives, the bone practically ceased to be used in the preparation of cutlets. Some cooks preferred to simply beat meat, some used breading to create a more interesting consistency. That is why now in every restaurant the cutlet can look completely different. And home cutlets in Russia are far from the original recipe. Yes, and how many calories in the cutlet depends on the cooking method.
Chicken
Probably the most popular meat for cooking cutlets in our country is chicken meat. Perhaps because of the low cost, or maybe because of its taste. In any case, it is worth knowing how many calories are in a chicken cutlet in order to understand what goes into your body with this fragrant dish.
It is not in vain that chicken meat occupies a leading position in the list of dishes for various diet menus. It is perfect during the rehabilitation period after illness. And all thanks to the high content of useful substances: iron, phosphorus, magnesium and many others. But how many calories in the cutlet directly depends on the method of its preparation.
Chicken itself has a very low fat content. Chicken breast contains about 160 kcal per 100 g. Thus, a medium-sized steamed cutlet will have about 150 kcal, and fried in vegetable oil is already 249 kcal. Adding breading, you will increase the calorie content of the final product by another hundred kcal. What can be done in order to reduce the calorie content of cutlets during its preparation?
Little tricks
If you are not happy with the taste of steamed dishes, then you should know a few tricks that reduce calorie content when frying. How many calories are in the cutlet and depends on the ingredients that make up its composition.
First of all, it is worth giving preference to chicken fillet. This is the most dietary part of the carcass, consisting exclusively of muscle fibers. You also do not need to add bread crumb so beloved by housewives to the minced meat. Bakery products never had a positive effect on the figure. If the cutlet lacks juiciness, grated potatoes can be added to the minced meat, having previously rid it of excess moisture. An egg cannot be removed from the recipe, because it is the main connecting link. But here you can reduce its calorie content, using only protein. No texture it will not affect. That's all the simple nuances that will turn homemade meatballs into a diet dish and you won’t be afraid of the question: “How many calories are in a fried meatball?”
Vegetable cutlets
You can cook cutlets not only from meat. Their most dietary option is vegetable. It is suitable for those who count how many calories are in a cutlet eaten for lunch.
Do not worry that the vegetable cutlet may turn out to be fresh and tasteless. A huge selection of juicy vegetables and aromatic spices will make this dish no worse than its meat counterpart. You don't have to be a vegetarian at all to pay tribute to Indian cuisine, with every dish teeming with spices and savory additives. But the inhabitants of this country prefer vegetables.