Italian · Main · Easy
Veal Piccata
Delicate veal scallopini in a bright, buttery lemon caper sauce that comes together in about 30 minutes. Simple, elegant, and impossible to overthink.
The whole recipe in 60 seconds
Veal Piccata, in 5 ideas
- Veal cooks in minutes at this thickness, so have everything prepped before the pan gets hot.
- Bottled lemon juice tastes dull next to fresh; squeeze your own for the bright flavor this dish is known for.
- Capers vary in saltiness, so taste the sauce before adding any extra salt.
- The butter goes in off the heat so it emulsifies into a glossy sauce instead of breaking into grease.
- Serve within minutes of finishing; the sauce loses its shine if it sits too long.
What you need
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs veal scallopini, pounded to 1/4 inch thickness
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup low sodium chicken stock
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1/4 cup capers, drained
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced for garnish
How to make it
Directions
- Season the flour with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each veal scallop and shake off the excess so only a thin coat remains.
- Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear the veal about 2 minutes per side until lightly golden. Work in batches and keep the finished pieces warm under foil.
- Pour the white wine into the hot skillet and scrape up the browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock, lemon juice, and capers. Simmer 4 to 5 minutes until the sauce reduces by about a third and thickens slightly.
- Return the veal to the pan for 1 minute to warm through, turning to coat in the sauce.
- Remove from heat, swirl in the remaining tablespoon of butter until glossy, scatter with parsley and lemon slices, and serve at once.
Ask the butcher for thin sliced veal from the leg and pound it yourself; you skip the markup on precut scallopini and get exactly the thickness you want.