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    Home / Dinner / Kotleti

    Kotleti

    Tender, juicy minced meat patties with a golden crust and a whisper of milk-soaked bread — the everyday hero of the Russian kitchen.

    ⏱ 20 minPrep time
    🔥 15 minCook time
    🍽 4Servings
    🏷 DinnerCategory
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    Kotleti

    Plump, juicy, and golden-crusted, kotleti are minced meat, soaked bread, and onion shaped into tender patties — Russia’s answer to the meatball and the burger. The secret is the bread-and-milk panade that keeps them impossibly moist.

    Served with mashed potatoes and a gravy boat of sour cream sauce, kotleti are a beloved weeknight staple. They freeze beautifully, so make a double batch and save half for a rainy day.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Soak the bread in the milk for 5 minutes, then mash it into a paste.
    2. Combine the meats, bread paste, onion, garlic, egg, salt, and pepper; mix gently until just combined.
    3. Shape into 12 oval patties and coat each in breadcrumbs.
    4. Heat the oil in a large skillet and fry the patties over medium heat until deeply browned and cooked through, 5-6 minutes per side.
    5. Rest briefly and serve hot with mashed potatoes and sour cream.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Mix the meat gently — overworking makes kotleti dense. For extra juiciness, add a few tablespoons of ice water to the mixture before shaping.

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    Recipe details

    Prep20 min
    Cook15 min
    Servings4
    CategoryDinner
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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