National Wienerschnitzel Day
Make your own deceptively simple Wiener Schnitzel out of pork or veal to add a delicious and wholesome new meal to your repertoire that dates back centuries.
I grew up in Austria, and for me, real comfort food is Wiener Schnitzel. Wiener Schnitzel and mashed potatoes because it reminds me of my youth… It reminds me when I grow up and it feels very comforting.
Wolfgang Puck
Wiener Schnitzel is a delicious treat that is much beloved by Austria and other countries in that region. It is, in fact, one of the premier examples of Viennese cuisine and has served as the backbone of many a native’s childhood diet.
Wiener Schnitzel Day celebrates this meal, its culture and its history.
How to Celebrate Wiener Schnitzel Day
Enjoy the celebration of Wiener Schnitzel Day with these types of fun activities:
Learn Some Fun Facts About Wiener Schnitzel
Impress friends, family members and coworkers by sharing interesting facts and tidbits about the guest of honor on Wiener Schnitzel day:
- Wiener Schnitzel is tenderized through the use of pounding on it to make it thinner and more comfortable to eat.
- An American fast food chain named ‘Wienerschnitzel’ was founded in 1961. Strangely enough, they started by selling hot dogs, but have since expanded into other menu items. They’re located in at least 10 states and also in Guam.
- In Finland, Wiener Schnitzel is called “Wieninleike” and is always made of pork. It became particularly popular toward the end of World War II. Here, it is typically served with mashed potatoes or french fries.
- Garnishes for this food vary significantly based on the place where it is served. It may range from a simple lemon wedge to butter, from parsley to potato, from anchovy slices to capers and horseradish.
Visit Vienna for Traditional Wiener Schnitzel
A trip to Vienna is just the thing for experiencing the most authentic and tastiest Wiener Schnitzel found all over the globe.
Enjoy visiting the palace where the Habsburg royal family would spend their summers, or view museums that house works of art by famous artists such as Gustav Klimt, Albrecht Dürer, or Hieronymus Bosch.
From the US, hopping on a flight to Austria can be fairly quick and easy, as Trans-Atlantic flights go. With several airlines that have direct flights from a few different American cities, a trip to Vienna can be made in around 8-9 hours from the east coast.
For enjoying the best of Vienna’s culinary delights, almost any traditional restaurant will serve a delicious schnitzel that’s probably bigger than your head! Squeeze a bit of lemon juice on that tender breaded meat and enjoy some potato salad on the side.
In between delicious meals, don’t forget to visit Vienna’s best attractions, including the Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace and Museum. And, of course, after meals, visiting a Viennese cafe for a delightful cup of Viennese coffee is the perfect treat.
Make Wiener Schnitzel at Home
Celebrating Wiener Schnitzel Day can be delightfully done by creating your own Wiener Schnitzel in your own home.
While decidedly simpler than some of the dishes mentioned above, it’s still a fantastic foundation for just about any Schnitzel based dish anyone might wish to create!
Wiener Schnitzel Recipe
- 1c Flour
- 3t Kosher Salt
- 2 Eggs (large)
- 2T Heavy Cream
- 2c Breadcrumbs
- ½ pound of eye round
- Pepper
- 2c Safflower Oil
- 3T Butter, Unsalted
- 4 lemon wedges
- Parsley
Begin preparing your Wiener Schnitzel by laying out paper towels two thick. Sift the flour and one Tablespoon of salt into a bowl, preferably one that’s shallow and wide.
Then take the eggs and whisk them together with the cream in a different bowl. Take the breadcrumbs and 2t of salt into a third bowl. Then flatten the eye round between plastic wrap, ensuring you don’t tear them, and then season with salt and pepper.
Heat oil to 350F in a pan and add butter. Then it’s as simple as dipping the eye round in the flour, dipping it in egg, and then the breadcrumbs and transfer to the pan.
Once it browns, turn it over and brown the other side, a total of about 2 minutes, one per side. Then set on the paper towels to soak up the excess oil and cool. Then serve with lemon and parsley.
History of Wiener Schnitzel day
A breaded cutlet that is deep-fried in oil, Wiener Schnitzel is traditionally made from veal, but also can be made from pork. In Australia, it might even be found made out of chicken or beef.
This dish is actually named after the city where it was invented, as “Wien” is the way Vienna is written in German.
Wiener Schnitzel was first mentioned in 1831 in a cookbook where it was called eingebröselte Kalbsschnitzchen, and would find its way to Vienna in 1857.
The dish continued to appear throughout the region, and one comment from 1887 said that it was “a gastronomic dream”, though the dish he describes is decidedly a complex affair, including slices of lemon peel, sardines, gherkins, capers, and an unknown array of other spices.
Today’s version of Wiener Schnitzel is also known by other names around the world. In the Midwest of the United States, it’s known as a “pork tenderloin” and is typically served on a bun as a sandwich. In Latin American, the dish is known as “Milanesa”, and in Czech Republic, it is called “Řízek”.
Wiener Schnitzel Day celebrates this dish and its place in that history!
National Wienerschnitzel Day FAQs
Did Wiener Schnitzel influence any unexpected cuisines?
Yes! In Mexico, a dish called Milanesa—a breaded and fried meat cutlet—closely resembles Wiener Schnitzel.
It was introduced by European immigrants, and today, it’s often served in sandwiches called tortas de milanesa.
In Japan, tonkatsu follows a similar preparation, but instead of veal, it’s made with pork and served with a thick, tangy sauce.
Why do some people insist on serving Wiener Schnitzel with lingonberry sauce?
This pairing isn’t Austrian but comes from Sweden and Germany, where fruit-based sauces are popular with fried foods.
The tartness of lingonberries cuts through the rich, crispy coating of the schnitzel.
While Austrians traditionally serve schnitzel with lemon wedges, some restaurants outside Austria have adopted the lingonberry trend.
What’s the strangest place Wiener Schnitzel has been served?
Astronauts on the International Space Station have enjoyed a version of Wiener Schnitzel!
In 2018, Austrian scientists developed a space-friendly schnitzel using vacuum-sealing techniques. While it wasn’t breaded and fried in zero gravity, the astronauts still got a taste of Austria in orbit.
Was Wiener Schnitzel ever a political symbol?
Yes! In the early 2000s, an Austrian politician proposed protecting Wiener Schnitzel’s identity under European Union food regulations.
The idea was to prevent restaurants from calling pork cutlets “Wiener Schnitzel,” since the authentic version must be made with veal.
This stirred controversy, as many Austrians had already grown used to pork schnitzels as an affordable alternative.
Are there any bizarre variations of Wiener Schnitzel?
Absolutely! In some parts of Texas, restaurants serve “Schnitzel on a Stick,” deep-frying breaded veal or pork on a skewer like a corn dog.
There’s also the “Cordon Bleu Schnitzel,” which has ham and cheese stuffed inside before frying, blending elements of Swiss cuisine.
Why do some chefs refuse to cook Wiener Schnitzel in olive oil?
Traditionalists argue that olive oil is too flavorful and heavy for Wiener Schnitzel. Instead, they prefer lard or clarified butter (Butterschmalz) to achieve a lighter, crispier texture.
Some chefs also use a mix of vegetable oil and butter to balance taste and texture.
Is it true that Wiener Schnitzel used to be a luxury dish?
Yes! In the 19th century, veal was expensive, and only the wealthy could afford authentic Wiener Schnitzel.
Some cooks even coated the schnitzel in gold leaf instead of breadcrumbs as a status symbol. Over time, more affordable meats like pork and chicken made the dish accessible to everyone.
How did Wiener Schnitzel become so popular outside Austria?
After World War II, many Austrian immigrants took their love for schnitzel abroad.
In Australia, it became a pub staple, often served with gravy. In Israel, it’s made with chicken or turkey, following kosher dietary laws.
In the U.S., German and Austrian restaurants introduced it in cities with large European immigrant populations.
What’s the most expensive Wiener Schnitzel ever made?
A restaurant in Vienna once served a luxury Wiener Schnitzel featuring Wagyu beef, black truffle shavings, and edible gold flakes.
The dish cost over $200! While traditional schnitzel remains affordable, high-end chefs occasionally create extravagant versions to impress diners.
Why do Austrians take Wiener Schnitzel frying techniques so seriously?
A proper Wiener Schnitzel should “soufflé” in the pan, meaning the breading puffs up slightly and separates from the meat.
This creates an airy, crispy texture instead of a dense, greasy coating. Chefs achieve this by frying the schnitzel in a pan with plenty of hot fat, flipping it constantly so it “swims” in the oil.
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