How to Properly Season and Cook Veal at Home
Veal is a meat that people aren’t as familiar with as chicken, beef, or pork. So, questions often arise about how to prepare it. However, veal is just as easy to cook as any of these more standard meats; you just have to follow the right recipe. If you’re planning to prepare this meat but are unsure how to properly season and cook veal at home, follow this guide for everything you need to start cooking.
How to Season Veal
First, decide how you want to season the meat. Rosemary is one of the most popular seasonings to pair with veal. But many other options go well with it, including:
- Thyme
- Chopped basil
- Rosemary
- Chopped parsley
- Garlic and butter
- Lemon juice
- Chili peppers
It all comes down to personal taste and the recipe that you follow. Choose whichever seasoning you prefer and create a rub mixture. Rub the seasoning into the cut of veal as you would with pork or beef. After seasoning, allow the meat to sit for about 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature before cooking.
How To Cook Veal
You can cook veal right on your stove at home in a large skillet, a cast iron pan, or another pan. Pan frying is the best method for cooking veal at home. Melt a fat, such as oil or butter, in the pan. Then, add your veal to the skillet. Cook each side until it’s golden brown. You can also add additional seasoning, such as salt and black pepper, during this stage if you desire. Turn over the meat repeatedly, and once both sides look golden brown, use a meat thermometer to test the thickest part of the cut. Make sure to cook the meat until the temperature reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit. From there, plate the veal and drizzle it with some juice from the pan. With this done, you’re ready to enjoy!
Cooking Tips
There are a few things to keep in mind while cooking veal. For one, there are various cuts to choose from, including tenderloin, chops, cutlets, and more. Veal is lean, and each cut will cook differently. So, make sure to reference a recipe for proper cooking times for each cut. Veal chops are the most common and easiest to cook, so they’re perfect to start with for beginners.
Cooking veal may seem like a foreign concept to those who have only cooked beef and pork, but the process is quite similar. Veal is easy to cook with a few guidelines, and it’s even easier to pick a seasoning because there are so many good pairs. If you feel inspired to try cooking veal and need a quality cut of meat, you can buy veal in the Bronx at Vincent’s Meat Market. Now that you know how to properly season and cook veal at home, you can do it yourself!
