Stuffed Veal Breast

[Walter Potenza – straordinario Chef Italiano – has once again graciously agreed to share a recipe with us. It follows his original, except for one change to make it kosher. CS]

Photo by: Chef Walter Potenza

Stuffing:

• 1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley, washed and chopped
• 4-6 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups Italian style bread crumbs
• 1/3 teaspoon oregano flakes
• 1/3 teaspoon basil flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• pinch of powdered sage or Bell Seasoning
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds (pareve/vegan)*
• 1/4 cup black oil cured olives, pitted and finely chopped

Directions:

1. Pour olive oil into a medium bowl. Add herbs, chopped garlic, and other stuffing ingredients except bread crumbs and cheese.
2. Allow to sit 10 minutes to infuse the herbs.
3. Stir in the cheese and bread crumbs. Mixture should be a consistency which allows you to make a smooth round ball out of the stuffing which doesn’t break apart and yet it should not be too liquid to hold this shape.
4. If mixture is too dry, stir in a few tablespoons of hot water or chicken broth at a time until you’ve reached the right consistency.
5. If mixture is too liquid, add a few tablespoons of bread crumbs.

Preparing the Veal:

• 1 4-5 lb veal breast with pocket
• olive oil spray
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• paprika
• salt
• pepper

1. Have the butcher make a large pocket in the side of a 4-5 lb veal breast. Rinse the veal and dry. Open the pocket and pat on the stuffing, with the largest portion in the center. Close the pocket with wooden toothpicks, tie shut with kitchen twine, or simply leave as is.
2. Brush or spray the veal breast thoroughly with olive oil spray. Sprinkle with with a light coating of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper.
3. Roast at 300°F degrees for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until tender and juice no longer runs pink, spraying every 45 minutes or so with olive oil spray.
4. It’s better to slightly undercook this than to overcook, because if the veal is overcooked it will become tough and dry. If you suspect the veal is nearly cooked but hasn’t browned yet, spray with olive oil one last time, turn up the heat to 375°F and finish it for 10-15 minutes to brown.
5. Sprinkle with a light dusting of paprika down the center and garnish with minced fresh Italian parsley.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

* Daya Mozzarella Style Shreds (pareve/vegan)

This product is dairy, lactose and casein free, gluten and soy free, cholesterol free. It melts and stretches.

Walter Potenza

Lemon Veal Soup with Mushrooms

It’s that cold time of the year, and what better way to warm up than with some hot and hearty soup?

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 12 oz boneless veal, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 carrots, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, halved
• 1 pared strip lemon rind
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp margarine
• 12 oz small button mushrooms, quartered
• 6 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup unflavored MimiCreme
• freshly grated nutmeg
• fresh lemon juice, to taste
• 1 – 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley salt and pepper

Directions

1. Put the veal in a large saucepan and add the stock. Bring just to a boil. and skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
2. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, lemon rind and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the veal is tender.
3. Remove the veal and carrots with a slotted spoon and reserve, covered. Strain the stock, into a clean saucepan. Discard the onion, garlic, lemon rind, and bay leaf.
4. Melt the margarine in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, season, and cook gently until golden. Reserve with the veal and carrots.
5. Mix together the cornstarch and MimiCreme. Bring the cooking liquid just to a boil and whisk in the cream mixture. Boil very gently for 2 – 3 minutes, (until it thickens, whisking almost constantly.
6. Add the reserved meat and vegetables to the soup and simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, until heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding nutmeg and a  squeeze  of lemon juice. Stir in the parsley, then ladle into warmed bowls and serve.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Great Chefs – Great Passover Recipes

From Chef David Kolotkin – Corporate Chef for the Prime Hospitality Group

Almond Crusted Veal Chop

Non-gebrochs – serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 12oz bone in veal chops, ask your butcher for center cuts, or from the loin end
• 1 egg, beaten (eggwash)
• 1 cup finely ground almonds

Brine

• 2 qts water
• ½ cup kosher salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 pc bay leaf
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• 30 pc black peppercorn
• 1 star anise
• 8 pc clove

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine ingredients 4-11 and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Cool the brine by placing in an ice bath.
4. When the brine is cool, submerge the veal chops in the brine and refrigerate for 5 hours.
5. Remove the veal chops, pat dry.
6. On only 1 side (presentation side), brush with the egg wash, then dredge in the ground almonds.
7. Over medium heat, brown in a large skillet with enough oil to coat the pan, almond side first. When lightly brown, turn over and brown the other side.
8. Place in a 350 degree oven for approx 15-20 minutes. I prefer to cook this to medium

—–x)0(x—–

From Chef Jeff Nathan, Owner/Chef at Abigael’s

Chicken Milanese with Tomato
and Arugula Salad

Gebrochs – serves 2

Tomato Salad

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ripe tomatoes, preferably 2 red and 2 yellow, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 2 tablespoon fresh basil, cut in thin ribbons
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 12 ounces arugula, washed and dried, torn into bite-sized pieces

Chicken

• 4 8-ounce skinless and boneless chicken cutlets
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup matzo flour (also called matzo cake flour)
• 2 cups Jeff Nathan Passover Panko flakes, or 1/2 cup matzo meal & 1/2 cup matzo farfale
• 3 large eggs, beaten with 2 teaspoons water
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F.

1. To make the tomato salad, whisk the lemon juice and oil in a medium bowl. Add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, and rosemary and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and let stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, while preparing the chicken.
2. Place the chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Using a heavy mallet or rolling pin, pound the meaty part of each cutlet until about 1/2-inch thick.  Season the cutlets with salt and pepper
3. Place the matzo flour in a shallow dish, the egg mixture in a second shallow dish, and the Passover Panko or matzo meal mixed with the matzo farfale in a third shallow dish. Coat each cutlet with the matzo flour, then the egg wash, and then the Panko or matzo meal.
4. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the cutlets and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Place the browned cutlets on a large baking sheet. Bake until they feel firm when pressed in the centers, 5 to 8 minutes.
5. Just before serving, add the arugula to the tomato salad and mix. For each serving, place a cutlet on a dinner plate, and heap the tomato salad on top. Serve immediately, with a wedge of lemon.

Enjoy, gentle reader,enjoy!

CS

The New Food Processor Bible – 30th Anniversary Edition

Every age has its food fads; every few years eating habits evolve as we become more conscious of what is healthy – and what is not – as we discover new products which allow for a larger selection of heretofore unimaginable dishes in a traditional Jewish kitchen. These days we see a plethora of new cookbooks that bring kosher cooking to new and exciting levels, yet… some books are destined to become classics to be reprinted over and over. One such book is The New Food Processor Bible – 30th Anniversary Edition.

Norene Gilletz original, The Pleasure of Your Processor, was first published in 1980; in 2002 she revised it with 100 new recipes as The Food Processor Bible and now in 2011 she just came out with a further revision. It’s a classic that keeps getting better and better.

Norene, whom we recently interviewed on our internet radio show, does not believe in a time consuming, the more ingredients the better, cooking style. Her books are filled  with straight forward, sensible, easy to follow recipes and the present volume is no exception.

Starting with a section explaining food processors, and continuing with Nutritional Analysis it goes on to through 12 more sections ranging from Appetizers to Passover and covering soups, fish, meat, salads, desserts and more. The results are healthy and delicious.

Here is one of my new favorite recipes (and there are quite a few that we loved!):

Rozie’s Osso Bucco with Gremolata

Yield: 6 servings

• 6 Veal shanks, well trimmed (about 4lb)
• 1/2 cup flour
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 medium carrots, cut in chunks
• 2 medium onions, cut in chunks
• 2 cups mushrooms
• 2 stalks celery
• 3/4 to 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (salt-free or regular)
• 1 can (28oz) tomatoes (salt free or regular)
• 1/4 cup fresh basil minced (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste
• Gremolata

Coat veal on all sides with flour, shaking off excess. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet. Add veal (in batches) and brown slowly on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Discard from a skillet.

STEEL BLADE: Drop garlic through feed tube while machine is running; process until minced. Add carrots and onions and process with quick on/off pulses, until coarsely chopped.

SLICER: Slice mushrooms and celery, using medium pressure. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet. Add vegetables and sauté on medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add wine, reduce heat and cook 1 minute longer. Add broth, tomatoes and herbs. Season with salt, and pepper. Add veal

Cover and simmer for 2 hours, until tender. At serving time, sprinkle Gremolata on veal

Gremolata

• 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon rind
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 2 or 3 cloves garlic

STEEL BLADE: Process until finely minced, about 10 seconds. Delicious with veal.

The above recipes (pages 184 and 185), come with the nutritional values. The Osso Bucco recipe also has a variation for cooking in a slow cooker. A perfect dish for Shabbos!

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Yom Tov Recipes – From Prime Grill’s Chef David Kolotkin

[Chef David Kolotkin, Executive Chef at The Prime Grill (60 East 49th Street; New York, NY 10017; Telephone: 212.692.9292) has appeared before on these pages (here, here, here,  here, and here). Once again he graciously acceded to share three yom tov recipes with our readers. CS]

Rosh Hashana Duck Meatballs with Sweet Sauce

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs ground duck meat
3/4 cup chicken or duck fat
2/3 cup soy milk
1 3/4 cup-2 cup bread crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp dried parsley
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme

-Combine all ingredients.
-Roll into 1 1/2 oz meatballs
-bake in 350 degree oven 8-10 minutes or until cooked through

Sweet Sauce

3 cups Pineapple juice
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
1/5 cup white Vinegar
1/4 cup Dark brown sugar

3 tbsp cornstarch
6 tbsp cold water

-combine the first 4 ingredients and bring to a simmer.
-combine the last 2 ingredients and whisk in to the simmering 4 ingredients. Bring back to a simmer.
-toss the meatballs into the sauce and serve.

Dry Rubbed Double Cut Veal Chop for Two

Ingredients

½ Tblspn Black Pepper
2 Tblspn Sugar
2 Tblspn Salt
5 Tblspn Porcini Pepper (dried porcini ground in spice/coffee grinder)

Mix all of the Above

1 Double Cut Veal Chop
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil

Sprinkle the dry rub generously on the veal chop before searing. In a hot sauté pan, using the oil, sear the veal chop on all sides. Put onto an oven-ready tray. Roast in a 350 degrees oven for approximately 10-15 minutes. Medium is my preferred temperature.

Red Pepper Jam

2 Red Bell Peppers—seeded, ribs out, julienned
¼ cup Sugar
1/3 cup Rice Vinegar (White Vinegar can be substituted)

Combine all ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a simmer. Slowly cook down until a jam like consistency (almost dry).

Sweet Potato Soufflé

Ingredients

3 cups Sweet Potato Puree
1/3 cup Sugar
Pinch of Salt
3 Eggs
1 Vanilla Bean
½ cup Pineapple Juice
½ cup Flour

Combine the first 6 ingredients. Fold in the flour. Pour into a greased pyrex baking
dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 40-45 minutes.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Sweet Potato Soufflé