Pork Milanese with Arugula, Tomato, and Pecorino

This recipe is a staple of Chef Emily Mingrone’s, co-owner of Tavern on State and Provisions on State in New Haven. She typically uses pork loin or pork sirloin cutlets, but with so many great cuts available, Chef Mingrone recommends you ask your local butcher what’s good.

By / Photography By | March 16, 2021

Ingredients

SERVINGS: 2 Serving(s)
Pork Milanese
  • 1½-2 pounds pork (enough for 4 cutlets)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 4 tablespoons kosher salt
  • ½ tablespoon black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne
  • 2 cups panko
  • 4 eggs, beaten
Shallot Vinaigrette
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
Salad
  • Watercress, arugula, or preferred seasonal greens
  • Cherry tomatoes, lightly roasted
  • 2 small radishes, thinly sliced
  • Pecorino or preferred salty/tangy cheese

Preparation

Cut pork into 6-8 ounce cutlets and use a meat mallet to pound into desired thinness. Set aside while preparing breading. In a large bowl, mix flour with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne until thoroughly combined. Place panko and beaten eggs into 2 additional bowls and arrange all 3 bowls in a line. Dredge each cutlet in seasoned flour, then beaten egg, then panko, pressing the cutlets into the panko to ensure an even coating, then set aside.

Cooking

Add ½ cup of olive oil to a large sauté pan and heat on medium-high heat. Once oil is shimmering, place 2 cutlets at a time into the pan until evenly browned on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside on a rack while cooking remaining cutlets to ensure the exterior stays crispy.

Next, prepare the vinaigrette. In a food processor, add shallot, Dijon mustard, and rice wine vinegar. Blend until smooth, then slowly pour in olive oil and salt. Set aside while preparing the salad.

To roast tomatoes, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a medium-sized sauté pan on medium-high heat. When the olive oil starts shimmering, carefully add tomatoes to the pan and sprinkle with salt. Once dark on a few sides and soft, set aside on a plate to cool.

Instructions

Once cooled, mix greens, roasted tomatoes, and radish in a bowl, then dress with shallot vinaigrette and salt, to taste. To serve, place 2 pork cutlets on each plate. Place a handful of salad atop the cutlets. Use a peeler to grate small slices of pecorino over the top, then finish with a heavy grinding of black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Related Stories & Recipes

Rosemary & Sage Butter-Seared Lamb

This recipe will please any hungry gathering of family and friends. Check out the photo essay, below, for great presentation and table setting ideas!

Cabanossi Tortellini Soup

This easy-to-make soup is bursting with flavor and nutrition! Best of all, its decidedly local; the photos for this recipe use onions and carrots from Easy Pickin's Orchard, cabanossi sausage fro...

Ingredients

SERVINGS: 2 Serving(s)
Pork Milanese
  • 1½-2 pounds pork (enough for 4 cutlets)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 4 tablespoons kosher salt
  • ½ tablespoon black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne
  • 2 cups panko
  • 4 eggs, beaten
Shallot Vinaigrette
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
Salad
  • Watercress, arugula, or preferred seasonal greens
  • Cherry tomatoes, lightly roasted
  • 2 small radishes, thinly sliced
  • Pecorino or preferred salty/tangy cheese
We will never share your email address with anyone else. See our privacy policy.