Kotlety – Russian Meat Cutlets with Onion and Garlic

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👉 Kotlety are Russia’s favourite everyday dinner: soft, juicy meat cutlets made from minced pork and beef with milk-soaked bread, onion and garlic, coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden. Every Russian grandmother has her own recipe, and kotlety with mashed potatoes or buckwheat is the taste of childhood for millions of people across Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet countries. The secret is the soaked bread – it keeps them tender, light and full of juice.

How to Make Kotlety

1. Soak the bread. Tear the bread into pieces and soak it in the milk for 5 minutes until completely soft. Squeeze lightly and mash it with a fork.
2. Mix the mince. In a large bowl combine the meat, soaked bread, grated onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper and herbs.
3. Knead well. Knead the mixture with your hands for 2–3 minutes, then lift and throw it back into the bowl a few times – this makes the kotlety tender and helps them hold their shape.
4. Shape. With wet hands, form 8 oval cutlets about 2 cm thick.
5. Coat. Roll each cutlet lightly in breadcrumbs.
6. Fry. Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry the kotlety for 4–5 minutes per side until deep golden brown.
7. Steam to finish. Add 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, cover with a lid and cook on low heat for 5–7 minutes so the centres cook through and stay juicy.
8. Serve. Serve hot with mashed potatoes, buckwheat or pasta, and a fresh cucumber-tomato salad or pickles.

Tips for the Best Kotlety

• Grate the onion instead of chopping it – the juice makes the cutlets extra moist.
• Don’t skip the soaked bread: it is what makes Russian kotlety soft and juicy rather than dense like a burger.
• Finish them covered with a splash of water – the steam cooks them through without drying them out.

FAQ

What are kotlety?
Kotlety are Russian pan-fried meat cutlets made from minced meat mixed with soaked bread, onion and egg, usually coated in breadcrumbs.

What do you serve with kotlety?
Classic sides are mashed potatoes, buckwheat (grechka), pasta or rice, with pickles or a fresh salad.

Can I make kotlety with chicken?
Yes – minced chicken or turkey kotlety are very popular. Add a little extra butter or cream to the mince to keep them juicy.

👉 More Russian comfort food: pelmeni, beef stroganoff, pirozhki and Danish-style karbonader patties. See our guide to Russian food.

Footnotes:

Kotlety freeze well: freeze raw on a tray, then bag them, and fry from frozen for a few extra minutes on each side.
For juicier cutlets add 2 tablespoons of ice water or crushed ice to the mince before shaping.