Corn schnitzel
Israeli fried corn dish popular with vegetarians and children.
Corn schnitzel (Hebrew: שניצל תירס) is an Israeli dish made from fried corn, related to Israeli schnitzel. It was often eaten by vegetarians and vegans in Israel in the 1990s, as it is pareve, and later became a standard item on children's menus.
The dish is prepared by pureeing cooked corn—whether frozen, canned, or otherwise prepared—and mixing it with egg, flour, breadcrumbs, and seasonings to create a thick batter. This batter is shaped into disks or ovals, coated in a breadcrumb-and-sesame mixture, and then fried. It is typically served with a sauce, often alongside Israeli salad or mashed potatoes, especially as a kids' meal. Commercially frozen versions are available in supermarkets. It has been described as an Israeli comfort food and is commonly offered on children's menus, including at Café Café.
- origin
- Israel
- type
- Fried corn dish
- dietary status
- Pareve
- common era
- 1990s
- main ingredients
- Corn, egg, flour, breadcrumbs, sesame seeds
- common consumers
- Vegetarians, vegans, children
Lore & Background
Corn schnitzel is an Israeli dish, described by Hadassah Magazine as a food commonly served in Israel to vegetarians and vegans during the late 1990s. Commercially produced, frozen corn schnitzel is sold in supermarkets. Corn schnitzel has since become a food popular among children, being commonly found on children's menus, including at Café Café. It has also been described as an Israeli comfort food.
Reader's Guide
Corn schnitzel consists of frozen, canned, or other cooked corn that has been pureed in a food processor and mixed with egg, flour, breadcrumbs, and various spices and seasonings to form a stiff batter. The batter is then scooped and formed into disks or oval-shaped, then it is breaded with a mixture of breadcrumbs and sesame seeds and fried. It is often served with a sauce and a side of Israeli salad or mashed potatoes, especially as a meal for children. Its significance lies in providing a pareve alternative to meat schnitzel, making it accessible to vegetarians and vegans during the 1990s, and its enduring popularity on children's menus reflects its role as a comfort food in Israeli cuisine.
Did You Know?
- Corn schnitzel is a variant of Israeli schnitzel.
- It was a common food for vegetarians and vegans in Israel during the 1990s.
- It is often served with a sauce and a side of Israeli salad or mashed potatoes.
- Commercially produced, frozen corn schnitzel is sold in supermarkets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Corn schnitzel?
Corn schnitzel (שניצל תירס) is a fried corn dish from Israel that serves as a plant-based relative of the classic Israeli schnitzel. It is pareve, meaning it contains neither meat nor dairy products.
How is Corn schnitzel prepared?
Cooked corn is blended into a thick batter with egg, flour, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, then shaped into disks or ovals. The pieces are rolled in a breadcrumb-and-sesame coating before being deep-fried until golden.
Why was Corn schnitzel popular with vegetarians in the 1990s?
Because it is pareve—free of both meat and dairy—it fit easily into vegetarian and vegan diets at a time when plant-based options in Israeli restaurants were still limited. It gave those diners a familiar schnitzel-style experience without any animal products.
What does Corn schnitzel typically come with?
It is usually served with a sauce and paired with either an Israeli salad or mashed potatoes. The dish also became a staple on children's menus across Israel.
What are the main ingredients in Corn schnitzel?
The core components are cooked corn (frozen, canned, or otherwise prepared), egg, flour, breadcrumbs, and sesame seeds for the outer coating, along with basic seasonings. The corn is pureed to form the base of the batter before shaping and frying.
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