The milanesa is a South American variation of cotoletta where generic types of meatbreaded cutlet preparations are known as a milanesa. The milanesa was brought to the Southern Cone by Italian immigrants during the mass emigration called the Italian diaspora between 1860-1920s. Its name probably reflects an original Milanese preparation, cotoletta alla milanese, which is similar to the Austrian Wiener Schnitzel. A milanesa consists of a thin slice of beef, chicken, fish, veal, or sometimes pork. Each slice is dipped into beaten eggs, seasoned with salt, and other condiments according to the cook's taste. Each slice is then dipped in bread crumbs and shallow-fried in oil, one at a time. Some people prefer to use very little oil and then bake them in the oven as a healthier alternative. A similar dish is the chicken parmigiana.
Variations
By adding tomato paste, mozzarellacheese, and sometimes ham, a dish called milanesa a la napolitana was created. "Neapolitan" is not named for the city of Naples, but because it was first made and sold in Restaurante Napoli owned by Jorge La Grotta in Argentina in the 1940s. The dish is sometimes known as súper milanesa or suprema napolitana. Milanesas are one of the most popular dishes in Argentina and have been described as "one of the quintessential Río de la Plata dishes". They are the legacy of Italian immigrants, who introduced cotoletta alla milanese in the late 19th century and early 20th century. During that time, Argentina experienced a huge European immigration wave, with most immigrants coming from Italy. Milanesas are so ubiquitous to Argentine culture that the country even has a "Day of the Milanesa", celebrated on May 8. They are frequently served hot with fried or mashed potatoes; this dish is known as milanesa con papas fritas or milanesa con puré. In Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, it is often topped with a fried egg, known as milanesa a caballo, but omits the tomato sauce. They are often eaten cold as a sandwich filling, with salad. Lemon juice and sometimes mayonnaise are commonly used as seasoning. Milanesa Kaiser, or escalopa as it is known in Chile, is a variant reminiscent of cordon bleu or valdostana, with a layer of melted cheese between the beef and a layer of ham. A classic Chilean version is called escalopa a lo pobre, topped with french fries, sautéed onions and fried eggs, akin to lomo a lo pobre. In Mexico and the Southern United States, milanesas are eaten in some regions, often in a torta. In northern Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua, it features lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise like a traditional sandwich, but the milanesa is also common in these regions as the main course of a meal. The milanesa memela napolitana is made with a thick fried tortilla with a milanesa on top, with ham, tomato sauce and grated cheese. In Mexico, milanesa usually refers to the preparation method; any type of meat that is pounded thin, breaded and fried might be referred to as a milanesa. In the northern state of Nuevo León, perhaps due to the influence of German and Czech immigrants, the dish known as milanesa is extremely popular and stands on its own as a main dish in most restaurants. It is usually served with french fries, refried beans, rice, and a lettuce salad. In Panama, they are most commonly made of thinly sliced beef, but also thin chicken fillet. Lime juice is squeezed over them before serving or eating them, and often they are also seasoned with hot sauce. They are eaten with white rice and other side dishes such as salad, lentils or beans. The latter two are poured over the rice, as they are usually served in Panama while the salad is served off to the side where there is still space left on the plate. When served as sandwiches, they are known as emparedado de milanesa or sandwich de milanesa when tomatoes, onions, lettuce, ketchup, and/or American cheese. Pan de molde and pan flauta are the types used to make these sandwiches. In the Philippines, milanesa is known as carne frita, and is cooked in much the same way as described above. Admittedly, it is not as popular in the country as it is in South America, and it is served mainly in people's homes, not in restaurants. The families that do eat it usually serve milanesa/carne frita with white rice, a bean stew of some sort, sometimes an American-style potato salad with cut green beans added, and often, chili ketchup and/or a mayo-ketchup mixed sauce not unlikethe South American salsa golf. It is almost never served as a sandwich.
