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Sesame Chicken Schnitzel
with Potato Wedges, Pear & Soy Mayo
Proper crunch on the outside, juicy in the middle — sesame seeds toasted right into the crumb — served with oven wedges and an unexpectedly good pairing of pear, cucumber and a soy-spiked mayo.
Ingredients (for 2)
Pantry basics not counted above: olive oil for shallow-frying, white wine vinegar for the salad dressing, and salt & pepper.
Method
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Get the wedges in the oven
Preheat the oven to 200°C fan-forced (220°C standard). Cut the potato into thin wedges, toss on a lined tray with oil and salt, and spread them out in a single layer — crowding them steams instead of crisping. Bake 25–30 minutes.
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Prep the salad and the sauce
Slice the cucumber into half-moons and the pear thinly. Whisk together the vinegar and a drizzle of oil for the dressing, and set both aside. In a separate small bowl, stir the mayonnaise and soy sauce together — that's your dipping sauce.
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Pound and crumb the chicken
Place each chicken breast between two sheets of baking paper and pound with a rolling pin or the base of a pan until it's an even 1cm thick — this is what stops the schnitzel drying out before the middle's cooked. Set up three shallow bowls: flour seasoned with salt and pepper, beaten egg, and the panko mixed with sesame seeds. Dip each piece through flour, then egg, then the sesame crumb, pressing gently so it sticks.
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Shallow-fry
Pour enough oil into a large frying pan to coat the base generously and heat over medium-high. Cook the schnitzels 3–4 minutes a side until deep golden and cooked through, then rest on a paper-towel-lined plate for a minute.
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Toss the salad
Add the cucumber, pear and salad leaves to the dressing and toss gently.
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Serve
Plate the schnitzel with the wedges and salad, and put the soy mayo on the side for dipping.