Cottage cheese: The secret to juicier, tender meat patties

Meat patties are integral to our cuisine, gracing our tables for years. Traditionally prepared, they are associated with home-cooked comfort. However, even classic recipes can be improved with a touch of creativity. So, what makes these meat patties special, juicy, and soft? The secret lies in one surprising ingredient – cottage cheese, which completely changes its texture and taste when mashed with a fork and added to the meat mixture.

Adding cottage cheese to meat patties is a simple yet very effective way to give them extraordinary tenderness. Instead of standard meat patties, which can be dry, this addition makes the patties soft, moist, and simply delicious.

What's the secret to the softness and juiciness of meat patties with cottage cheese? Cottage cheese, mashed with a fork, perfectly binds the ingredients while giving the mixture softness and lightness. It's important not to over-mash the cottage cheese – just mash it gently to avoid large lumps. The cottage cheese should not overpower the meat's flavour but harmoniously complement it.

• 600 grams of ground meat (e.g., pork shoulder)
• 250 grams of semi-fat cottage cheese
• 1 large onion
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Bread crumbs
• Roll soaked in milk or broth
• Salt, pepper, marjoram (optional)
• Fat for frying (e.g., lard)

Preparing meat patties with cottage cheese is not difficult but requires attention, especially during the mixing process. The cottage cheese should be thoroughly mashed, and the ingredients should be well-mixed to achieve a uniform consistency. It’s also advisable to add spices—salt, pepper, and a bit of marjoram—to give the patties a deeper flavour.

Once the mixture is ready, shape it into small balls with wet hands, then flatten them into patties. The next step is to coat the patties in bread crumbs to ensure a crispy crust during frying.

In a pan, heat up two tablespoons of lard, which gives the patties a traditional taste and aroma. Fry the patties on a moderate heat on both sides until they become golden and crispy. It's important to fry them slowly so the meat cooks evenly inside and the crust is perfectly crispy.

Want to add even more flavour to your patties? Try the following variations:

• Patties with vegetables: Add grated carrots, zucchini, or mushrooms to the filling.
• Patties with herbs: Use fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or thyme.
• Spicy patties: Add hot chilli pepper or cayenne pepper to the filling.

Meat patties with cottage cheese are a perfect example of how a slight change in a classic recipe can produce spectacular results. The addition of cottage cheese makes the patties juicier and exceptionally soft, and tender. If you want to diversify traditional meat patties, try adding cottage cheese – the result will pleasantly surprise you and your loved ones. Cottage cheese in meat patties is a simple yet ingenious way to elevate their flavour to a higher level.