For a few years, vegetarian and vegan substitute products have become indispensable in the supermarket.
It seems to be worth it: in 2014, the meat company Rügenwalder Mühle included veggie products in its range, and in 2020 the division already accounted for more than half of its sales.
Almost every discounter now has plant-based mortadella and burger patties as their own brands.
On the one hand, this is great for anyone who wants to do without meat without having to do without their favorite childhood dishes – in my case, schnitzel.
On the other hand, the prices of plant meat are sometimes fantastically high: in many cases noticeably more expensive than meat from animals.
But can it really be that much more expensive to bread some vegetable protein than to keep an animal for months, feed it, provide it with medication, transport it hundreds of kilometers, cut it up and then refrigerate the meat continuously?
Or do consumers mainly pay companies high profit margins for a green conscience?
Due to the rising prices, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many people to make ends meet with the monthly budget.
Fortunately, you can conjure up a plant schnitzel for bad times with simple household remedies: namely from oatmeal.
This "broken schnitzel" is a small network phenomenon and made EXTREMELY easy.
Success and failure lie above all in the right seasoning.
I know, I know: It's burning in many people's fingers to comment "Don't call it schnitzel" or "Without meat, it's not a schnitzel".
But let's take a close look at why these supposed guardians of the German language are wrong.
The word »Schnitzel« derives from the Middle High German »snitzen«.
It means cutting a piece of wood into smaller pieces - carving.
From the 15th century the term was also used for scraps of paper, which later evolved into »snippets«.
"Schnitz" in its original form simply describes smaller sections of a whole, which can be heard in central and southern Germany with words like "Apfelschnitz" or seen in the wood chips in every carpentry shop.
In this sense, the tender oat flakes are themselves schnitzel from the oat grain.
One could say: The net commentators (and politicians who want to ban the word for non-meat products) are making a gross blunder here.
First a large glass of sunscreen.
This is what you need for four small oat schnitzels (enough for 2 people):
150 g tender oat flakes
30 g wheat flour, alternatively 1 egg
150 ml vegetable broth
50 g breadcrumbs or cornflakes
2 tsp mustard
A large pinch each of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder – or other meat seasonings (see box)
oil for frying
What does this cost?
Depending on the price of the spices, about 25 cents per person for the schnitzel, plus any side dishes
. How long does it take?
Only 15 minutes
It's so easy to make schnitzel from oatmeal:
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Sebastian Maas
Cook it without cash!
A SPIEGEL book: The creative cookbook for everyone with a small budget and little time
Publisher: Penguin
Number of pages: 240
A SPIEGEL book: The creative cookbook for everyone with a small budget and little time
Publisher: Penguin
Number of pages: 240
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After my rather labour-intensive pasta recipe the other day, a colleague asked me to offer “a recipe for lazy people” again.
In their sense:
Thoroughly mix the oat flakes with the flour, mustard, all spices and the vegetable stock.
Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes.
If it seems too runny, add a little more flour or oatmeal to thicken it.
Form four balls of the same size with wet hands.
Place the balls on a plate with breadcrumbs or crumbled cornflakes.
Turn it over, flatten it to a maximum of 1.5 centimeters and then put it directly into the hot pan.
Fry in plenty of oil for about 2-4 minutes on each side.
Lean on medium heat so the breading doesn't burn before the inside is cooked through.
You can experiment with the spices and the right mixing ratio of the ingredients as you wish.
Just 10ml of water more or less makes a big difference in texture.
Whichever spice mixture (and side dish) you choose in the end - I wish you a good appetite.
Are you looking for more dishes that cost little money? Then please follow me on Instagram. Do you know dishes that cost little money? Then write me an email.