Breaded Veal Cutlet (costoletta alla milanese) - Lombardia, Secondo (Main Course Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is cotoletta made of? ›

A tender veal cutlet coated in crunchy breadcrumbs fried in butter, Cotoletta alla Milanese is one of the signature dishes of Milan, the style and design capital of Italy. Also referred to as Veal Milanese, you may already know a certain version of this already – and also how irresistible it can be!

It is traditionally prepared with a veal rib chop or sirloin bone-in and made into a breaded cutlet, fried in butter. Due to its shape, it is often called oreggia d'elefant in Milanese or orecchia d'elefante in Italian, meaning 'elephant's ear'.

Soak the chops in milk for an hour before cooking to soften the meat (this is optional).

Tender cuts including leg cutlets, veal patties, and rib or loin chops can be prepared by dry heating methods such as roasting, broiling, pan broiling, grilling or stir frying. Moist heat methods such as braising or simmering with a liquid can also be used with these cuts.

The cotoletta milanese is prepared only with veal loin, while the Viennese schnitzel (the so-called Wiener Schnitzel) is prepared with a different cut of veal or pork. The Cotoletta Milanese is served thick, while the Viennese one is thin. The Cotoletta Milanese is fried in butter and the Viennese cutlet in lard.

The primary difference between the Viennese Schnitzel of Austria and the Cotoletta alla Milanese or Veal Milanese of Italy is the cut of meat. Both are traditionally made from calf and the Milanese comes from the loin with the bone-in, while the schnitzel is without bone and comes from the flank or rump.

But how does the meat taste different? Well, veal is slightly more tender than beef, due to the muscles not being worked for as long as the muscles of beef and it has a much more delicate flavour. Veal is actually easier for our bodies to digest than beef is because of how much more tender the meat is.

Veal originated in ancient European times and became popular with the Romans, Austrians, and the French. The tender meat and lack of fat made this meat a delicacy around Europe. Veal is usually priced higher as compared to the standard cuts of meat.

Veal is the meat from a calf or young beef animal. A veal calf is raised until about 16 to 18 weeks of age, weighing up to 450 pounds. Male dairy calves are used in the veal industry.

How Do I Keep Veal From Getting Tough? Veal is a lean type of meat, so it can easily become chewy and tough if overcooked. Make sure to only fry the cutlets until golden and crispy on each side.

What does milk do to steak? ›

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

When sautéing, pan-frying or stir-frying cutlets, use medium-high heat to avoid overcooking. Stewed or braised veal should be browned slowly to let the flavor develop. Lightly cover to retain steam and simmer gently over very low heat. To ensure your veal is tender, juicy and flavorful, cook at 160º.

Season the meat with herbs, pepper, and salt to your desired taste, and place it in a roasting pan. If you are cooking a rack of veal, keep your meat moist by coating it with olive oil. You may also try out bacon, duck fat, or butter as an alternative to olive oil for a veal roast.

Cotoletta (Italian: [kotoˈletta]) is an Italian form of breaded cutlet made from veal. The dish originated in France as the côtelette de veau frite, and was created by the chef Joseph Menon in 1735. Côtelette means 'little rib' in French, referring to the rib that remains attached to the meat during and after cooking.

A similar veal dish is known in Italian as cotoletta alla bolognese, which excludes tomato sauce but includes melted Parmesan cheese and prosciutto. Costoletta alla parmigiana is another similar veal dish, but in Italy it is generally served without sauce or cheese.

Veal is just beef that's been processed before maturity—just like lamb is young sheep. It's very tender, because the animal's muscles are underdeveloped. (Although crating the calves contributes to tender meat, merely processing them before they grow up and work their muscles also contributes to unctuous meat.)

Breading and pan-frying veal cutlets is a classic and delicious way of preparing veal. The result is perfectly coated, browned, and tender veal cutlets that are easily made with a simple three-step process: The veal is dipped into flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs, assuring a crispy coating.