Mashers & meat tenderisers

A truly Polish dinner cannot do without mashed potatoes (also known as mashed potato) and a well-beaten cutlet. After all, who among us doesn't know the distinctive sound of meat being beaten on Sunday mornings? A meat pestle and potato press are found in the kitchen drawer of every Polish woman and man.

A wooden or metal meat pestle will be essential for the first stage of preparation - whether it's a pork chop or de volaille, the meat needs to be brought to the right tenderness. With a steel pestle or meat press, cooked potatoes can be quickly mashed to a perfectly creamy texture. One, two, three - it's all done! Finally, use a garlic or citrus press to squeeze a little garlic and lemon into the vinaigrette dressing for the salad. And a delicious dinner is ready!