A cutlet is a thin, flat piece of meat that's been pounded or sliced to cook quickly and evenly. Picture taking a chicken breast and flattening it with a mallet until it's about as thick as your finger. That's a cutlet.

Cutlets cook fast because they're thin, which makes them perfect for breading and frying. A chicken cutlet might get dipped in egg, coated with breadcrumbs, and fried until golden and crispy. This is how dishes like German schnitzel or Italian chicken parmesan start. Pork and veal cutlets are popular too.

Today, cutlets can come from almost any part of the animal, as long as they're thin and cook quickly. Some cooks even make vegetable cutlets from mashed potatoes or eggplant slices, breaded and fried the same way.

When you see cutlets at the grocery store or on a menu, you know you're getting a tender piece that will cook in just a few minutes per side.