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As important as having simple yet delicious weeknight meals in your repertoire, is having a slightly elevated, dinner-party-appropriate meal in your repertoire! I love cooking for dinner parties just as much as I love cooking for my family. This Veal Scallopini recipe is one I’ve made for many dinner parties, and even just for Kyle and I when we want to have a nice meal at home. It’s really simple, delicious, and doesn’t take too long to prep or cook– which means more time to hang with your guests!
We have yet to enjoy our first official adults-only dinner party in our new home, but sharing this recipe (and cooking it) has totally reminded me how I need to get back on the party train ASAP. There is really nothing more enjoyable to me than sitting around my table with great friends, sharing a meal, and laughing. Oh and having wine of course but hold on that for now! LOL.
This recipe serves 4-6 people, but can be easily doubled. I like to serve it next to Orzo, made with a squeeze of 1 lemon, zest of 1 lemon, and a lump of butter– plus a generous grind of salt and pepper.
Recipe…
Veal Scallopini
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp lemons
- 1.5 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup Italian parsley, minced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 lb veal scallops, Should amount to around 8 scallops, pounded to 1/4" thick
- salt
- pepper
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup dry white wine
- 3 tbsp capers
Instructions
- Grate 1 tbsp zest from the lemons. Set aside.
- Juice the lemons until you have 3 tbsp of juice.
- In a small bowl, stir together zest, parsley, and garlic and set aside.
- Season veal with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high flame and melt 2 tbsp of butter.
- Add half the veal and cook on one side until browned for 1 minute, flip over and brown the other side for another minute, and transfer to a plate.
- Repeat the same process with another 2 tbsp of butter and the other half of the veal, transferring the second round of veal to the same plate.
- Melt the last tbsp of butter in the same frying pan over medium-high heat and and add half of the zest/parsley/garlic mix, stirring constantly for 60 seconds.
- Add the wine and stir, scraping up the brown bits at the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the sauce until it's reduced by about half (2 minutes).
- Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Return the veal and its juices to the pan and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Sprinkle with the remaining zest/parsley/garlic mixture, and serve.
Nutrition
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Photographs by Julia Dags
Really, veal? I’m not a vegetarian or anything, but veal always equals “tortured baby cow” to me.
I thought so too, but I just read this about modern veal farming. See what you think:
https://www.vealfarm.com/veal-farming
Really veal! I grew up portly in Europe and ate veal a lot growing up, but totally get it if it’s not your thing. You can also sub in chicken cutlets.
Yes, veal it’s an Italian staple. Since veal is now so politically incorrect, I can’t find fresh veal anywhere. I use thin cut pork chops – the texture is similar and it works well.
Veal, so sad.
Hi Eva,
I LOVE this recipe! What sides/veggies do you usually serve this with?
I am going to make this next weekend 🙂
Thanks!
Ashley
it sucks that writers nowadys never learned how to proof read.
just bought capers, what the hell am i supposed
to do with them?
Delicious.
This is a fabulous recipe. Right on target and oh-so-good! Grazie!