Traditional Polish Meat Patties (Kotlety Mielone)
Ingredients
– 1 small stale dinner roll or 2 slices stale white bread
– ½ cup (120 ml) milk
– 1 lb (450 g) ground pork, ground beef, or a combination of both
– 1 medium onion, finely grated or minced
– 1 large egg
– 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
– 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
– 1 teaspoon salt
– ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
– ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
– ½ cup plain breadcrumbs, for coating
– 2–3 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
1. Soak the stale bread or dinner roll in the milk for about 5 minutes until softened.
2. Squeeze out the excess milk and crumble the bread into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the ground meat, grated onion, egg, garlic (if using), parsley, salt, pepper, marjoram, and paprika.
4. Mix gently with your hands until all the ingredients are evenly combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the patties tender.
5. Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape them into oval or round patties about ¾ inch (2 cm) thick.
6. Lightly coat each patty with breadcrumbs, shaking off any excess.
7. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
8. Fry the patties for 4–5 minutes on each side until they are beautifully golden brown.
9. Reduce the heat slightly if necessary and continue cooking until the patties are fully cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F).
10. Transfer the cooked patties to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
11. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Traditional Polish Meat Patties are delicious served with creamy mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, buttered vegetables, braised cabbage, pickled cucumbers, mushroom gravy, or a crisp cucumber salad. Fresh rye bread also makes an excellent accompaniment.
Storage
Allow the patties to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a skillet, oven, or microwave until thoroughly heated before serving.