While, most often than not, when we think of ground meat, it’s mostly an all American ground beef cheeseburger that comes to mind, the truth is that ground meat – and this could be beef, chicken, pork and mutton or veal – is used in many ways  – in quiches, pot pies or a Shepard’s pie to meatballs and even in soups!

Now, break down that all American ground beef burger and you’re left with what you might call a ‘patty’, similar to the cutlet, schnitzel or kofta.

The focus of my post today is the difference between these various forms of ground meat/ mince & their versatility when it comes to cooking. Keep reading to find out how I made my version of this ‘patty’ recently for dinner & why it was a hit with my family!

Patty

A Patty is often described as a small flat cake of minced i.e. ground or finely chopped food, especially meat, typically served in a sort of sandwich called a “burger”, or a hamburger if the patty is made from ground beef. However, patty or Pljeskavica originated and is a national dish of Serbia, also popular in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. It is a traditional meal, normally grilled of spiced meat patty mixture of pork, beef and lamb, which only through American fast food chains became known around the world.

Cutlet

Often confused with a Patty, a Cutlet, is actually not ground or minced but is a  boneless, thin cut of meat, shaped like a croquette i.e. cutlet shaped— from the leg or ribs of veal, pork, chicken, or mutton chicken, veal, pork, or lamb. The Poles say chicken kiev, kotlet kurczeta, originated in the Polish city of Kijow, while the French say it was invented by Nicolas Francois Appert in the 18th century and adopted by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (1741–1762) of Russia who preferred French foods and fashions. Most cutlets are made by pounding the meat until there is an even thinness. Because this thin cut of meat cooks very quickly, it is often dusted with flour or coated in breadcrumbs before being pan-fried.

One form of the cutlet, is a German schnitzel (or Schweineschnitzel). This is traditionally made with pork chops that are also thinly breaded and fried in a tender crisp coating.

Kofta

The Kofta is a family of meatball or meatloaf dishes found in the Indian subcontinent, South Caucasian, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Central Asian cuisines. In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced or ground meat—usually beef, chicken, lamb, or pork—mixed with spices or onions. Patties are often confused with Koftas, since both are made of ground/ minced meat. However, we now know that the origin & shape of the two differ. The kofta can be fried and eaten dry or added to a thick gravy and served on rice or eaten with flatbread. When made from a mix of other finely chopped vegetables, most significantly potatoes – for a vegetarian diet – these koftas are called ‘Tikkis’ in the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions.

Ground chicken is always a part of my family’s grocery list. We have to have it at least once if not twice every week. And while I try switching up the serving format & spices, cooking ground meat is a time consuming, not to mention messy process (it releases a lot of water). With the kids’ soccer season and other changes to our routine, I had to find a less-involved, convenient way to use my ground chicken. I found the solution was Baked Chicken Patty. They taste awesome, don’t require a lot of involvement, left overs last for days & can be used in a variety of ways!

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It’s dinner time. You are starving, your family is starving, and they expect you to whip up something tasty and delicious, and quickly.

Chicken, beef, or another main entree is an easy given, but what else can you throw together with them?

Luckily there is something that will go easily with any meat, something that can be made several different ways that are bound to satisfy all members of your family. And that something is a potato.

Here are five reasons that potatoes are always going to be dinner’s delectable best friend and something you can always count on when it comes to preparing any meal.

1) They are healthy

30 Healthy Ways To Eat Potatoes

Not only are potatoes easy to make and taste really good, they are also very healthy.

There are so many simple healthy potatoes recipes out there that taste good but deliver the nutrients you want your family to get with every meal.

Depending on the type of potato you choose to make, each has its own nutritional value. Sweet potatoes, for example, are jam-packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, Vitamin E, calcium, and Iron.

Red potatoes have a lot of the same nutrients, but their skin is especially nutritious with large amounts of fiber and B Vitamins.

2) The possibilities are endless

The 18 Best Ways To Cook Potatoes, In Order

As was mentioned before, one of the greatest parts of potatoes is their versatility.

You can make them into soup, mash them, bake them, dice them and cover them with cheese. Whatever your heart’s desire, there is probably a simple healthy potato recipe to satisfy it.

3) Solution for picky eaters

Julie’s Potato Salad is my go-to summer side dish! Ever the pickiest eaters love these simple, classic flavors!

Because potatoes are so versatile even your most picky eater will have a version of potatoes that they enjoy eating.

You could say the potatoes are a really great “safe” food because you know when you prepare it everyone is going to be happy and eat and enjoy the food you prepared.

They are the best foods to personalize to your own individual taste, because you can start them off plain but add all the flavors and toppings you want, ensuring it will taste good and be eaten.

4) Easy on the tummy

An Old Palestinian Potato Home Remedy for Tummy Troubles

If you or any of your family are having stomach problems potatoes are a great solution.

As mentioned before, potatoes are filled with many beneficial nutrients and are made up of mostly water, making them very easy to digest. So if there is a stomach bug plaguing your house or if someone always has a sensitive stomach, potatoes are the answer.

5) Easy on the wallet

11 Cheap Meals to Make with Potatoes

One reason that potatoes could be on the dinner menu pretty often is that they are a pretty inexpensive side dish.

It’s easy to buy potatoes in large quantities for a really affordable price. Also, most potatoes are available year round, although they are even cheaper during potato harvesting season, which is usually early fall.

This also means that potatoes are a great option if you have to feed a lot of people but don’t want to spend a ton of money, hence why you see so many potato dishes served around the holidays.

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1. Oatmeal

Turn instant oats into a quick, easy, and deliciously healthy breakfast by adding berries and cream to it. If you have oatmeal lovers, this is a great meal to get your kids going in the morning. You can even lay out bowls of fruit on the table for your kids to put in their oatmeal.

2. Smoothie Bowls or Yogurt Parfaits

Smoothie bowls are great, especially if you want to hide some vegetables that your child wouldn’t get otherwise. Use your favorite smoothie recipe, pour it into a bowl, and add fruit and granola to it. Likewise, for an even simpler breakfast, add fruit and granola to yogurt. Lay out all of the fix-ins and let your kids make their own healthy parfait.

3. Grilled Cheese with Veggies

Are your kids grilled cheese lovers? Use whole grain bread, a favorite cheese, and add on veggies like tomatoes, peppers, spinach, and cucumbers. This meal only takes a few minutes to make and is perfect for quick lunches or dinners.

4. Chicken Salad

Grill up some chicken, throw it in a leafy green mix, add toppings like cheese and tomatoes, cover it in your favorite dressing (or your kids’ favorite dressing). For an extra simple meal, grill up some extra chicken on a night when you have chicken planned, and save if for lunch the next day. Any salad will be a great healthy and easy meal – you can use deli meats or leftover Christmas ham and turkey for the meat too.

5. Pesto Pasta

Cook up some bowtie pasta, mix it in with pesto or Italian dressing, and lay it over a bed of leafy greens for a perfect and simple healthy meal. If you have children old enough to do so, you can even instruct them to boil the pasta and mix it with the dressing.

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