Veal Scallopini With Lemon and Capers

By Molly Watson

Updated 02/20/19

Veal With Lemon and Capers
Veal Scallopini. Molly Watson
  • Total: 15 mins
  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 10 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
379 Calories
24g Fat
2g Carbs
35g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 379
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 10g 52%
Cholesterol 152mg 51%
Sodium 352mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Protein 35g
Calcium 64mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Veal cutlets are one of the easiest, quickest, and tastiest meals you can pull together for a last-minute dinner. And veal scallopini is a classic, some may say old-school, recipe. A few moments in the pan; a couple of ingredients to create a sauce, and dinner is done—a recipe that is simple and delicious and ready in 15 minutes. These veal cutlets are cooked with butter, lemon, and capers and served over arugula; the heat from the veal and sauce gently wilt the leaves in a most pleasing fashion. All you need is some crusty bread or a side of roasted potatoes and you've got dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound veal scallopini (or cutlets)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (plus more to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons drained capers
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 3 tablespoons butter (cut into 4 to 8 pieces)
  • 4 cups arugula leaves (loosely packed)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pat the veal dry with paper towels and sprinkle it lightly with the salt.

  3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan (preferably large enough to hold all the veal in a single layer) over medium-high heat.

  4. Put as much of the veal as fits in a single layer in the pan (it is important you don't crowd the pan) and cook until it has started to brown and releases from the surface of the pan - about 2 minutes.

  5. Turn the cutlets and cook them until they're cooked through and browned on the second side - about 2 more minutes. Transfer the veal to a plate. Repeat with any remaining veal, as necessary.

  6. Return the frying pan to the heat. Add the capers to the pan and let them sizzle for about 30 seconds.

  7. Add the white wine and use a spatula to help scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan.

  8. Whisk together and cook until the wine is reduced by at least half, about 2 minutes.

  9. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine.

  10. Swirl in the pieces of butter, whisking if you like, to make a sauce. Taste and add salt if needed.

  11. Return all of the veal to the pan to coat it in the sauce.

  12. Divide the arugula between 4 plates. Drizzle a bit of the sauce over each serving of arugula before placing the veal on top of the salad. Drizzle any remaining sauce evenly over the veal.

  13. Serve immediately.

Today's Veal

If you don't eat veal for animal welfare reasons, know that there is an alternative kind of veal on the market. The difference is that the veal comes from the calves culled from the herd, not calves raised virtually motionless in pens.  You may find it labeled as "red veal," or with the Italian word "vitello." The meat isn't milky white but instead is a pale red color.