RECIPE BY:

Matt Sinclair

SERVING SIZE:

2 – 4 people

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 pork cutlets, bone in
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Salt and Pepper
• Cobram Estate Light Extra Virgin Olive Oil for shallow frying

BRAISED FENNEL:

• 2 bulbs fennel, trimmed and fronds reserved
• 2 Tbsp Cobram Estate Light Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ½ Tbsp Coles fennel seeds
• Zest and juice of 1 orange
• 150ml Massel salt-reduced chicken stock
• Salt and Pepper
• Sugar, to taste

METHOD:

• Lay the pork cutlets onto a sheet of greaseproof paper, and cover with another. Beat with a mallet to tenderise meat and flatten slightly. Combine the breadcrumbs and lemon zest in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Place egg into a separate shallow bowl. Dust both sides of each cutlet with flour and shake off any excess. Transfer and coat in egg, before transferring into the breadcrumb mixture. Press to coat cutlets evenly. Set aside.
• Cut the fennel bulbs into quarters and remove the hard core from each piece. Cut in half once again. Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based lidded pan over a medium-high heat. Add the fennel, season with salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes on each side until golden and caramelised. Add the fennel seeds and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, add the zest, juice and stock cover. Add sugar to taste – depending on the sweetness of the orange. Cook for 10 minutes, until fennel is tender and liquid has reduced. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with reserved fennel fronds.
• Meanwhile, cook the pork cutlets. Heat approximately ¼ cup of oil (enough to cover the base) in a pan over a medium-high heat. Shallow fry the crumbed pork for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden, crispy and cooked through. Transfer onto baking paper and season with salt. Keep warm and repeat with remaining cutlets.
• Serve cutlets with braised fennel on the side and garnish with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Our friends at Wine Selectors recommend pairing this dish with a Barbera or Vermentino or Arneis.