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Crispy Garlic-Oregano Pork Cutlets

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 12, 2011

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4

Crispy Garlic-Oregano Pork Cutlets

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into pieces½ teaspoon dried oregano ½ cup all-purpose flour 2 large eggs 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), trimmed, cut into 4 pieces, and pounded ½-inch thickSalt 6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano leaves, divided into 2 equal portions1 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Pulse bread in food processor until coarsely ground. Bake bread crumbs on rimmed baking sheet until dry, about 20 minutes. Transfer crumbs to shallow dish and stir in dried oregano. Spread flour in second shallow dish. Beat eggs in third shallow dish.
  2. Pat pork dry with paper towels and season with salt. One cutlet at a time, coat lightly with flour, dip in egg, and dredge in bread crumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
  3. Heat 1/2 cup oil, 3 peeled and smashed garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Fry 2 cutlets until deep golden and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towel-lined plate and transfer to oven to keep warm. Discard oil, wipe out skillet, and repeat with remaining oil, garlic, oregano, and cutlets. Serve.
Crispy Garlic-Oregano Pork Cutlets

Crispy Garlic-Oregano Pork Cutlets

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), trimmed, cut into 4 pieces, and pounded ½-inch thick
Salt
6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano leaves, divided into 2 equal portions
1 cup vegetable oil

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), trimmed, cut into 4 pieces, and pounded ½-inch thick
Salt
6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano leaves, divided into 2 equal portions
1 cup vegetable oil

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), trimmed, cut into 4 pieces, and pounded ½-inch thick
Salt
6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano leaves, divided into 2 equal portions
1 cup vegetable oil

Why This Recipe Works

The appeal of tender, crispy, golden brown breaded pork cutlets is easy to see, but there are only so many times you can eat them plain or in a sandwich. We wanted a pork cutlets recipe that dressed them up with interesting flavors. Instead of using thin-cut pork chops in our Crispy Garlic-Oregano Pork Cutlets recipe, our tasters preferred the tender cutlets made from pounding slices of pork tenderloin to an even thickness. Store-bought bread crumbs made our pork cutlets taste sandy and dry. Making homemade bread crumbs from white sandwich bread and then toasting them in the oven gave the breading a fresh taste and crunch. For a final layer of seasoning, we infused the oil with garlic and oregano before frying the cutlets.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Pulse bread in food processor until coarsely ground. Bake bread crumbs on rimmed baking sheet until dry, about 20 minutes. Transfer crumbs to shallow dish and stir in dried oregano. Spread flour in second shallow dish. Beat eggs in third shallow dish.
  2. Pat pork dry with paper towels and season with salt. One cutlet at a time, coat lightly with flour, dip in egg, and dredge in bread crumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
  3. Heat 1/2 cup oil, 3 peeled and smashed garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Fry 2 cutlets until deep golden and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towel-lined plate and transfer to oven to keep warm. Discard oil, wipe out skillet, and repeat with remaining oil, garlic, oregano, and cutlets. Serve.

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