Preparation time: 2 hours Servings: 15 medium-size cutlets
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 3 medium potatoes; 1 raw potato, grated; 1 medium onion, grated; ½ teaspoon baking soda; 1 egg + 1 egg yolk; ½ teaspoon turmeric; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon liquid saffron; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper; 2 cups bread crumbs; oil for frying
Instructions:
- Boil potatoes until thoroughly cooked (about 30 minutes), then peel.
- Place ground beef in a large bowl; while still warm, grate potatoes on top of beef.
- Add all remaining ingredients, except bread crumbs, and mix well, kneading thoroughly.
- Blend mixture in a food processor for 3 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and preferably overnight.
- In a large frying pan, warm oil.
- Roll meat mixture into balls (slightly larger than golf balls).
- On a wooden cutting board, spread bread crumbs and roll balls in crumbs.
- Flatten each ball on the board, forming into 1/3 inch thick, oblong shapes, with one slightly pointed side about 4 inches long (both sides should be covered with bread crumbs).
- In the skillet, warm oil and fry each cutlet until golden on both sides (about 7-8 minutes).
Note: Cutlets may be made in advance and reheated or served cold. They also freeze well. Cutlets are popular for lunch and as a mid-afternoon snack, served with fresh tarragon, mint, and basil.
Summer Berry Mousse:
Preparation time: 1 hour Servings: 10
Ingredients: 32 ounces plain yogurt, drained in cheesecloth; 1 ½ cups whipping cream; 1 ½ cups raspberries; 1 ½ cups blackberries; 2 packages unflavored gelatin; ¼ cup boiling water; 1 ½ cups crushed graham crackers; ½ cup butter
- Instructions:
- Mix crushed crackers and butter and line a greased 9-inch spring form pan.
- Whip cream and mix with thick yogurt.
- Soften gelatin in boiling water, cool slightly, and add to cream mixture.
- Puree ¾ of the berries in a food processor and add to gelatin mixture.
- Spoon out contents of bowl on top of the crust and even out the top.
- Refrigerate for eight hours.
- Remove pan ring and place on platter.
- Garnish with additional whipping cream and berries and serve.