Lionel Messi, a living legend of world football, is known for his brilliance on the pitch, and fans are endlessly curious about his life off it too. Millions of supporters want to know what his favourite food is, what he does in his spare time and what kind of food he likes best.

A special place on Messi's list of favourite foods belongs to Milanesa Napolitana, a popular traditional dish of Argentina. Made of meat coated in crisp breadcrumbs and topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese and tasty toppings, it is popular not only in Argentina but around the world. If you want to try Messi's favourite dish, here is how to make it easily at home.

First wash the pieces of meat well and drain them. Rub them with salt, black pepper and garlic paste and leave for 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, beat eggs in one bowl, put flour in another and breadcrumbs in a third. Roll the meat first in the flour, then dip it in the egg and coat it well with breadcrumbs.

Heat oil in a karai and fry the meat on medium heat until golden. Once fried, place it on tissue to drain off the excess oil. Put the fried meat on a baking tray, spread tomato sauce over each piece, then scatter mozzarella cheese, tomato slices and a little oregano on top.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 180C, and take it out when the cheese has fully melted. If you have no oven, you can melt the cheese by leaving the meat for a few minutes on low heat in a covered non-stick pan.

Milanesa Napolitana is usually served with mashed potato, French fries, salad or rice. Many like to sprinkle lemon juice over it, which lifts the flavour further.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.