veal

Osso Buco - a Favorite

Osso Buco

Do you love Osso Buco as much as I do?

I make this a lot when I have sleepover company. You can make it ahead, freeze it and have dinner all ready!

Osso Buco

  • 4 large veal shanks, 2” thick (or 8 small ones)

  • 1/4 cup flour

  • 3 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

  • 1 carrot, finely chopped

  • 1 onion, finely chopped

  • 1 stalk celery, finely chopped

  • 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 strip lemon peel 1-1/2” long

  • 1/2 cup white wine

  • 1/2 cup chicken or beef stock (or more wine)

  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste

  • freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh marjoram or oregano

Dredge the veal shanks in the flour. Shake off excess flour. Heat the olive oil in a deep sauté pan over medium heat. Brown the meat, turning the shanks occasionally (about 6-7 minutes). Remove the meat from the pan. Add the carrot, onion, celery and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon peel, wine, stock and tomatoes to the pan. Bring the ingredients to a simmer. Return the meat to the pan. Sprinkle the ingredients with the salt, pepper and herb. Cover the pan and simmer gently over low heat for about 2 hours or until the meat is very tender. (Or place in the oven at 275F).

Makes 4 servings

Braised Breast of Veal

Climate change brings warmer winters, that’s for sure. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the kind of rich, slow-cooked, hearty stew that we wanted when it snowed or it was bitterly cold outside!

I’ve made this dish using large cubes of veal but like it best with a whole breast (so I can gnaw on the bones).

BRAISED BREAST OF VEAL

  • one breast of veal, about 3-1/2 pounds

  • all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks

  • 2 large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

  • 2 medium onions, peeled and cut into chunks

  • 1 large clove garlic, chopped

  • 1 cup white wine

  • 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)

  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Rinse and dry the veal and press the meat into the flour to lightly coat the entire surface. Heat the vegetable oil in a large ovenproof saute pan or casserole over medium heat, add the meat and cook for about 4 minutes per side to brown the outside. Remove the meat to a plate and set aside. Add the carrots, potatoes and onions to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes to cook them slightly. Add the garlic and cook briefly. Return the meat to the pan, moving the vegetables around so they sit on top of and around the meat. Pour in the wine. Place the rosemary sprigs in the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Cover the pan and place in an oven. Turn the heat to 275F OR keep the casserole on the cooktop, lower the heat and cook at a simmer for about 2 hours or until very tender.

Makes 4 servings 

Veal Shoulder Roast with Shiitake Mushrooms, Rosemary and Thyme

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As usual we bought too much smoked fish for our New Year's weekend. So, thanks to bagels, we've been slowly using up the salmon, whitefish, sablefish and herrings every day since. Thank goodness also that my husband doesn't complain about leftovers.

Besides, it was delicious and we don't often have smoked fish in the house.

But it's time to move on.

Need meat.

This veal shoulder roast is easy, nourishing and flavorful. A good cold weather dish too. And perfect for Shabbat.

It's nice with cooked egg noodles and roasted carrots.

VEAL SHOULDER ROAST

 

  • 6 dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 veal shoulder, about 3 pounds
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 large clove garlic, chopped
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary (about 1/2 teaspoon dried, crushed)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup white wine

 

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Soak the dried mushrooms, rinse them and cut them into shreds. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heatproof, ovenproof casserole over medium-high heat. Brown the meat on both sides (about 3-4 minutes per side). Remove the meat to a dish and set aside. Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil to the pan. Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until lightly golden. Return the meat to the pan. Season with the rosemary, thyme and pepper. Pour in the wine. Cover the pan and place in the oven. Bake for about 1-1/2 hours or until tender.

 

Makes 4 servings

Breast of Veal for Passover

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In my world, Passover is not usually the brisket fest that is typical for so many of the other families I know.

Our usual is turkey. Second night veal.

That's because, growing up, when the Seders were at my grandma's house, and the crowd could be as many as 24 people, she always served a big turkey the first night. The second night, when we were a much smaller group, she would cook a batch of veal cutlets with a crunchy matzo meal crust.

Frankly, I don't feel like frying up a whole mess of cutlets, so my Passover veal dinner will likely be breast of veal, one of my favorites meats to eat. I realize a lot of people think breast of veal is too down home for a festive occasion such as Passover.

I don't agree. Look how beautiful this roast is! Golden brown skin, meaty bones, moist meat, savory vegetables to accompany. Looks impressive to me! And also quite good to eat, for Passover or otherwise.

Roast Breast of Veal with Mushrooms, Onions and White Wine

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 10 ounces fresh mushrooms
  • 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 breast of veal, about 3-4 pounds
  • 1/2 cup white wine

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes, to soften slightly. Add the mushrooms, garlic and parsley, stir and cook for another 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the vegetables into a roasting pan. Place the veal breast on top. Brush the top surface of the meat with the remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes. Pour the wine over the meat. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees. Roast for another 45-50 minutes, basting occasionally, or until the surface is crispy.

Makes 4 servings

Breast of Veal with Mushroom "Dust"

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Breast of Veal is either "peasant food" or "holiday festive food" depending on who you ask.

I don't care about such things. If I like how it tastes I want to eat it.

Like Breast of Veal. The meat is sweet and soft. The bones are gnaw-worthy.

I usually braise or stew this portion. But I decided to roast one, inspired by a recipe I saw in Bon Appetit Magazine for Grilled Porcini Rubbed Rack of Veal

Okay, theirs was rack, mine breast. Theirs was grilled, mine roasted. The ingredients are different, except for the dried mushrooms (they called for mushroom powder, I crushed my own dried mushrooms) and crushed red pepper.

But I do have to credit them for the inspiration. Dried mushrooms and veal -- perfecto!

 

Breast of Veal with Mushroom Dust

  • 1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 medium clove garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 3-4 pound breast of veal
  • salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Crush the mushrooms using a rolling pin (or use a food processor) until they are ground to "dust." Place the mushroom dust in a bowl. Add the olive oil, chives, red pepper, garlic and lemon juice. Stir to blend the ingredients. Place the veal breast in a roasting pan. Brush the mushroom mixture over the top surface of the meat. Sprinkle with salt. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Roast for one hour. Remove the cover and raise the oven heat to 425 degrees. Roast for another 15-20 minutes or until the surface is crispy.

Makes 4 servings

Classic Osso Buco

Osso Buco

I’m teaching Osso Buco this afternoon which means my house smells really really good right now! This dish needs lots of time, so I cooked a batch beforehand for my students to eat and the stuff they make will be dinner for …. me and my husband, next week (this dish freezes very well!)!

Osso Buco

  • 4 large or 8 small veal shanks, about 2-inches thick

  • 1/4 cup flour

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium carrot, finely chopped

  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

  • 1 stalk celery, finely chopped

  • 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 strip lemon peel, about 1-1/2 inches long

  • 1/2 cup dry white wine

  • 1/2 cup veal or beef stock

  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped OR 28-ounce can Italian tomatoes, drained and chopped

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste

  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh marjoram or oregano

  • Gremolata, optional

Dredge the veal shanks in the flour. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted and looks foamy, add the shanks and cook, turning them occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove the meat to a plate and set aside. Add the carrot, onion, celery and garlic to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon peel, wine, stock, tomatoes and tomato paste to the pan. Bring the ingredients to a simmer. Return the meat to the pan and spoon the other ingredients on top. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the marjoram or oregano. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low and cook for about 2-1/2 hours or until the meat is very tender. Serve topped with Gremolata if desired. Makes 4 servings

Gremolata:

  • 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

  • grated peel of one medium lemon

  • 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

Mix the parsley, lemon peel and garlic in a bowl.

Makes about 1/2 cup