How to turn your chicken soup leftovers into delectable cutlets

Many Eastern European homes mark weekends by cooking chicken soup. This soup has many variations; on Mondays, it can be transformed into tomato soup, and the vegetables inside can be made into pâté. The meat, which often serves as the base for the chicken soup, can also be repurposed. Instead of throwing it away, fry some cutlets.

Although making vegetarian chicken soup is not complicated, the classic meat version is still the most popular. This isn't surprising, as the addition of beef or chicken brings out a lot of umami flavour and adds depth. This is how our grandmothers and mothers cooked, and now we do too. After cooking, the meat can be added to the soup as a "filler" or set aside and turned into unique cutlets.

In the kitchen of a resourceful homemaker, nothing goes to waste. And rightly so, because wasting food is an ailment that can be easily cured. Our grandmothers knew this well, transforming chicken soup and its components into tomato soup, casseroles, pâté, or dumpling filling. In my house, however, delicious cutlets reigned supreme, which could be mistaken for classic ground meat patties at first glance.

The best choice is chicken or turkey meat. You can also use mixed meat. Feel free to experiment with different spices, such as garlic, marjoram, and smoked paprika.

They taste perfect with potatoes or rice and a simple salad or beets.

Ingredients:

• 300 grams (10½ ounces) of cooked poultry meat from chicken soup,
• 2 eggs,
• 1 onion,
• 1 teaspoon of salt,
• 1 teaspoon of pepper,
• 1 teaspoon of chicken seasoning,
• 1 teaspoon of fresh dill,
• 20 grams (¾ ounce) of clarified butter or oil,
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil,
• 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs.

Steps:

1. Remove the chicken soup meat from the bones, skin, and gristle. Peel the onion.
2. Grind the meat and onion in a meat grinder or food processor.
3. Add eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and chopped dill to the mixture. You can also add garlic, sweet or hot paprika, or a ready-made chicken seasoning mix.
4. Mix everything thoroughly.
5. Form cutlets and coat them in breadcrumbs.
6. Heat the oil or clarified butter in a pan and add the prepared cutlets.
7. Fry on both sides until they are appetizingly browned.
8. After frying, place a small piece of clarified butter on each cutlet. Cover the pan with a lid and steam for a few minutes to ensure the cutlets are juicy.

A simple and delicious dinner is now ready. Enjoy your meal!