Pork Schnitzel Meatballs Recipe

By Marvin Gapultos
Updated Aug. 30, 2018
Photographs: Marvin Gapultos

For this meatball version of pork schnitzel, a simple blend of thyme, lemon zest, and parsley is combined with ground pork; the mixture is then formed into balls, rolled in flour, egg, and panko and then deep-fried until crisp. The crunchy panko shell gives way to a juicy schnitzel interior—just like its cutlet counterpart. And also like its cutlet counterpart, these meatballs need no further embellishment other than a squeeze of lemon, but a bit of sauerkraut or a dip in grainy mustard work wonderfully well too.

Recipe Facts

Active: 30 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serves: 4 to 5 servings

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons, plus 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

  • 3 tablespoons milk

  • 1 pound ground pork

  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

  • 2 teaspoons grated zest from 1 lemon

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1 quart vegetable, canola, or peanut oil

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of Panko with the milk and set aside to soak for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ground pork, thyme, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper, and parsley and gently mix until thoroughly incorporated.

  2. Working with wet hands, use a tablespoon measure to scoop out meat mixture and roll between your palms to form a meatball about an inch in diameter. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet or large plate and repeat until all the mixture is used.

  3. Place the flour, egg, and remaining cup of Panko into three separate medium bowls or shallow dishes. Dredge each meatball in the flour, then in the egg, and finally in the panko. Replace the breaded meatballs on the rimmed baking sheet or plate.

  4. Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, or wok until it reaches 350°F on a deep-fry thermometer. Adjust flame to maintain temperature. Working in batches, fry the meatballs, turning frequently, until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer the meatballs to a large platter lined with paper towels and season with salt. Serve the meatballs with lemon wedges, or with grainy stone-ground mustard.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
442 Calories
30g Fat
19g Carbs
22g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 5
Amount per serving
Calories 442
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 8g 41%
Cholesterol 102mg 34%
Sodium 482mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 3mg 13%
Calcium 66mg 5%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 322mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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