In Russia, there are many national dishes that have become famous worldwide, and among them are Pojarsky cutlets. Their history is often linked to Prince Dmitry Pojarsky, although in reality, he has no connection to them other than his surname. There are several versions regarding the origin of this recipe.

According to one of the most popular accounts, the cutlets were invented by Darya Yevdokimovna Pojarskaya, the wife of an innkeeper from Torzhok. One day, when Nicholas I was passing through and decided to have lunch at a local hotel, his favorite veal cutlets were not on the menu. Then Darya Yevdokimovna prepared cutlets made from chicken meat, breaded in breadcrumbs. In the classic recipe, eggs were not used. The dish turned out to be so juicy and delicious that the emperor liked it very much, and he supposedly ordered them to be named Pojarsky cutlets.

If we believe this legend, soon the cutlets became popular among gourmets. Alexander Pushkin recommended them to his friend Sergey Sobolevsky and even dedicated a poem to them. Foreign travelers, such as Théophile Gautier and Victor d'Arlincourt, also noted their tenderness. The writer Alexandra Ishimova mentioned in her memoirs that being in Torzhok and not trying Pojarsky cutlets would be a missed opportunity for many travelers.

Over time, Darya Yevdokimovna's culinary 'invention' became so popular that it acquired the status of a national dish. These cutlets immortalized the name of Pojarskaya and became one of the symbols of Russian cuisine. However, over nearly two centuries, the name of Darya Yevdokimovna has somewhat faded, and many began to associate the dish with Prince Dmitry Pojarsky. Do you like Pojarsky cutlets?