braised veal with gremolata Gourmet | April 2001

Gremolata, a mix of finely chopped lemon zest, parsley, and garlic, is an Italian topping classically served with osso buco. We added some basil to make it even livelier.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 3 1/4 hr

Makes 6 servings.

Gourmet Entertains
 ingredients
For veal
2 cups boiling water
1 (4 1/2- to 5-lb) boneless veal shoulder roast, rolled and tied by butcher
2 large garlic cloves, cut lengthwise into 20 thin slices
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon potato starch dissolved in 1 1/2 tablespoons cold water

For gremolata
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
2 teaspoons minced garlic

Accompaniment: polenta wedges
 preparation

Pat veal dry and cut 20 (1 1/2-inch-deep) slits all over with a thin-bladed knife. Stuff each slit with a slice of garlic, then season veal with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown veal on all sides, about 10 minutes. Add wine and deglaze pot by boiling over high heat (keep veal in pot), stirring and scraping up brown bits, until wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Simmer gently, covered, turning veal every 30 minutes, until meat is tender, about 2 hours.
Transfer veal to a cutting board and cool completely.

Skim any fat and froth from surface of pan juices, then boil until reduced to about 2 cups. Pour through a very fine sieve into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir dissolved potato starch, then whisk into pan juices. Simmer sauce until slightly thickened.

Make gremolata: Stir together gremolata ingredients.

Stir half of gremolata into sauce and season with salt and pepper. Chill remaining gremolata, covered.

Heat and serve veal: Preheat oven to 350°F.

Remove strings from veal and cut meat across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Overlap slices in a 13- by 9-inch ceramic or glass baking dish and pour sauce over meat. Cover dish with foil and heat in middle of oven 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with remaining gremolata.

Cooks' notes:

• Veal (cooled on cutting board but not sliced) can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Slice meat while still cold and reheat in sauce.

• Sauce can be made 1 day ahead, then cooled completely before being chilled, covered.
 
Transfer veal to a cutting board and cool completely.

Skim any fat and froth from surface of pan juices, then boil until reduced to about 2 cups. Pour through a very fine sieve into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir dissolved potato starch, then whisk into pan juices. Simmer sauce until slightly thickened.

Make gremolata: Stir together gremolata ingredients.

Stir half of gremolata into sauce and season with salt and pepper. Chill remaining gremolata, covered.

Heat and serve veal: Preheat oven to 350°F.

Remove strings from veal and cut meat across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Overlap slices in a 13- by 9-inch ceramic or glass baking dish and pour sauce over meat. Cover dish with foil and heat in middle of oven 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with remaining gremolata.

Cooks' notes:

• Veal (cooled on cutting board but not sliced) can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Slice meat while still cold and reheat in sauce.

• Sauce can be made 1 day ahead, then cooled completely before being chilled, covered.