Veal Parmesan • Classic Veal Parmigiana {Video} • Two Purple Figs

Are you in the mood for some divine Italian food? If so, you’ve got to try making veal parmesan at home. There’s nothing quite like a big plate of veal parmigiana with all the bright comfort flavors of Italy! This veal parmesan recipe comes together for a perfect weeknight dinner! Video below.

We LOVE our super popular Grilled Chicken Parmesan and make it so very often. The simplicity of these flavors when combined tastes like pure comfort! Homemade Marinara Sauce or store bought along with Basil Pesto (strongly suggest my homemade recipe and guide), and Cheeses. What could be better?

Since we also LOVE veal, and our ever so popular Veal Scallopini which are made using the same veal scallopini cutlets, we thought of combining those two into today’s Veal Parmesan recipe.

Now let’s make some finger-licking veal parmigiana! 

What is Veal?

Veal is the meat of calves which aren’t used for breeding. Usually the male calf meat is referred to as veal meat. Veal can come in your grocery store as milk fed or grain fed. The milk fed as the name suggests is a super light pink , very lean and tender meat. That’s because the calf feeds primarily on milk or formula like milk diet. 

Milk fed veal is absolutely the most tender and sweet tasting veal. The grain fed veal is also tender and sweet compared to beef, however it’s not as lean as the milk fed veal. 

Veal is very common in the Mediterranean diet and you’ll find it used often in European cuisines. Today’s veal parmigiana, Veal Scallopini, veal schnitzel are among the most popular dishes.

While we love veal, for full transparency here, there’s quite a lot of controversy around the beef industry which includes the veal industry as well. I source my veal from a local butcher which I trust, but can not speak for the industry as a whole. 

What is Veal Parmesan?

Veal Parmesan or Veal Parmigiana is a classic Italian dish consisting of breaded veal cutlets topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s typically served over spaghetti, making for a delicious and hearty meal. It’s a variation on the popular Chicken Parmesan.

While it might sound complicated to make, veal Parmesan is actually quite simple – and I’ve got a great recipe and video for you to follow. So next time you’re looking for an impressive yet easy dish to make, give veal Parmesan a try! 

Ingredients for Veal Parmesan recipe

• Veal. You need thinly sliced milk fed veal cutlets or veal scallopini cutlets. 
• Breading station for the veal which includes:
• A plate of seasoned flour
• Eggs on a plate also seasoned lightly
• A final plate of seasoned breadcrumbs
• Sauce Ingredients which include

• Marinara sauce, homemade or store bought
• basil pesto — I strongly suggest homemade and I share a guide on freezing, storing and making pesto without nuts.
• Cheeses: Mozzarella and Parmesan are the classic cheeses used here.

How to Make Veal Parmigiana

You’ll start off by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare an oven dish that’s 9 by 13 inches and set aside while you prepare the veal.

The veal cutlets get a light salt and pepper sprinkle on each side.

Next, set up a breading station for the veal. Use three separate shallow, one each for bread crumbs, eggs, and flour. Each dish has to be seasoned lightly with salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder for utmost flavor. This is optional however.

Start by dredging the meat into the flour and flip to coat well on both sides. Make sure to remove excess flour by shaking the meat out of the flour plate.

Next, dip the floured slices in eggs and flip to coat on both sides as well.

Finally, place the cutlet into the breadcrumbs plate and press down the bread crumbs to make them stick on to the veal on both sides.

Place the breaded veal cutlet in a pan with hot oil and cook for about 2 minutes per side, or until they’re golden brown. You’re not going to aim to cook through the veal here, rather you want the nice golden crust. The veal will continue cooking in the oven so don’t worry about cooking it all the way through.

Once golden and seared, you’ll remove the veal cutlets to drain on paper towels and remove any excess oil.

Now, it’s time to assemble the dish. Spread 3/4 cup to 1 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Then, add the cooked veal slices in an even layer over the sauce.

For flavor add a light layer of Basil Pesto before proceeding with another layer of marinara.

More marinara sauce goes on top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Extra dollops of Basil Pesto, fresh cherry tomatoes and it’s ready to bake.

Bake the dish until everything is hot and bubbly, and serve it hot. Now enjoy fresh, homemade veal parmesan! 

Veal Parmesan Tips

If you’re in the mood for some truly delicious Italian cuisine, you can’t go wrong with veal parmesan.  It’s the perfect combination of crispy, juicy, and cheesy, and it’s sure to satisfy any appetite. Plus, it’s relatively easy to make at home, so you can enjoy it any time the craving strikes. So why not give it a try the next time you’re in the mood for something special? Your tastebuds will thank you! 

• Use Milk fed veal if you’re able to find it, it’s more tender, lean and sweeter.
• You should use pounded veal cutlets.
• Season the breading station for extra flavor to the veal parmigiana recipe.
• Make sure to shake excess flour from the veal as you do the breading and this is to prevent clumps.
• Pan fry the breaded cutlets for 3 mins or so until golden but not necessarily cooked through as it will cook in the oven.
• Use homemade Basil Pesto if possible or store bought, and likewise try Homemade Marinara Sauce.
• Always start with a layer of marinara at the bottom and finish with it on the top to keep the veal parmigiana juicy.
• Add more or less of the cheeses to your taste.
• Leftovers veal parmesan makes for a delicious sandwich!

Veal Parmesan Sandwich

A veal Parmesan sandwich is a very popular variety of the dish. It’s like the best reason to have leftover veal parmesan!

The veal is cooked as per this recipe to make veal parmesan, and then stuffed into a sandwich. You can add extra mozzarella cheese to the sandwich if you’d like.

A veal Parmesan sandwich can be served on a crusty roll with some greens or fries. Either way, it will be a hit with your family and friends.

FAQs

What is veal Parmesan made of? 

Veal parm is made with veal (a young calf) and parmesan cheese baked in marinara sauce. You’ll notice the veal is usually pounded thin and breaded, then fried or baked. It is then covered with tomato sauce and mozzarella or Parmesan cheese and served over pasta. 

What cut of meat is Veal Parmesan? 

You want to typically go for a top or bottom round. These cuts are taken from the hindquarters of the veal calf and are relatively lean. The rounds can be roasted, grilled, or sautéed and then sliced thinly for use in veal parmesan. 

Why is it called veal parmesan? 

Veal parmigiana, or veal Parmesan, is a dish of Italian origin that consists of a breaded cutlet of veal covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella or Parmesan cheese, named after the city of Parma in the region of Emilia-Romagna. 

What does Veal Parmesan taste like? 

If you had Grilled Chicken Parmesan or any chicken parmesan before then you’ll guess easily the taste. It’s a blend of crispy, cheesy, saucy piece of comfort food! 

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make veal parmesan ahead of time. Just assemble the dish, then cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time if the dish is cold when it goes into the oven.

Veal Parmesan

In the mood for divine Italian food? Try Veal Parmesan or Veal Parmigiana ! Comfort food made so easy and tasty with video and tips! Breaded veal pan fried and then cooked in marinara, basil and topped with cheeses!

Ingredients

Veal

• 2
  veal scallopini cutlets
  pounded
• 1/8
  teaspoon
  salt and pepper
• 1/4
  cup
  oil
  sunflower oil, light olive oil, avocado oil or any high smoking point point

Breading

• 1/2
  cup
  flour
  seasoned with salt, pepper and oregano
• 1
  egg
  beaten and seasoned with salt, pepper and oregano
• 3/4
  cup
  panko breadcrumbs
  seasoned with salt, pepper and oregano

Sauce

• 1- 11/2
  cup
  marinara sauce
  homemade or your favorite storebought
• 2
  Tablespoons
  basil pesto
• 1/2
  cup
  Mozzarella cheese
• 1/2
  cup
  Parmesan cheese
• 1
  tablespoon
  Fresh basil

Instructions

1. Start by Preheating your oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Prepare the veal by seasoning it lightly with salt and pepper on both sides.

3. Have three shallow plates for the breading station ready and add flour to one, eggs to the second and breadcrumbs to the third. Season each plate with salt, pepper and oregano. Garlic powder is optional.

4. Now take the veal, one piece at a time and start the breading process. Place the veal cutlet into the flour plate.

5. Toss well and coat on both sides, but make sure to shake off excess flour and ten place the coated cutlet into the egg plate.

6. Toss well and place the cutlet now into the breadcrumbs plate. Press down the veal cutlet to make sure it’s well coated in breadcrumbs on both sides.

7. Preheat a skillet over medium high heat with the oil. Place the breaded veal cutlet into the hot oil and pan fry for 3 minutes or so per side.

8. You want the veal to be golden and crispy, but not necessarily cooked through as it will continue cooking in the oven.

9. Drain the golden cutlets on a kitchen towel to remove excess oil.

10. Now take your 9 by 13 inch oven safe dish and place nearly 1 cup of marinara sauce.

11. Lay the golden veal cutlets over the marinara sauce.

12. Smother some basil pesto over the veal for extra flavor (optional).

13. Now top with the remaining marinara sauce, cheeses, tomatoes and more dollops of basil pesto. bake the veal parmesan for 20-25 minutes.

14. It’s ready when the cheese has melted, the sauce has been bubbling to cook and infuse the veal and the veal has cooked trough.

15. Garnish with some extra fresh basil and serve right away. Enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Veal Parmesan Tips

If you’re in the mood for some truly delicious Italian cuisine, you can’t go wrong with veal parmesan.  It’s the perfect combination of crispy, juicy, and cheesy, and it’s sure to satisfy any appetite. Plus, it’s relatively easy to make at home, so you can enjoy it any time the craving strikes. So why not give it a try the next time you’re in the mood for something special? Your tastebuds will thank you! 

• Use Milk fed veal if you’re able to find it, it’s more tender, lean and sweeter.
• You should use pounded veal cutlets.
• Season the breading station for extra flavor to the veal parmigiana recipe.
• Make sure to shake excess flour from the veal as you do the breading and this is to prevent clumps.
• Pan fry the breaded cutlets for 3 mins or so until golden but not necessarily cooked through as it will cook in the oven.
• Use homemade Basil Pesto if possible or store bought, and likewise try Homemade Marinara Sauce.
• Always start with a layer of marinara at the bottom and finish with it on the top to keep the veal parmigiana juicy.
• Add more or less of the cheeses to your taste.
• Leftovers veal parmesan makes for a delicious sandwich!

Veal Parmesan Sandwich

A veal Parmesan sandwich is a very popular variety of the dish. It’s like the best reason to have leftover veal parmesan!

The veal is cooked as per this recipe to make veal parmesan, and then stuffed into a sandwich. You can add extra mozzarella cheese to the sandwich if you’d like.

A veal Parmesan sandwich can be served on a crusty roll with some greens or fries. Either way, it will be a hit with your family and friends.

FAQs

What is veal Parmesan made of? 

Veal parm is made with veal (a young calf) and parmesan cheese baked in marinara sauce. You’ll notice the veal is usually pounded thin and breaded, then fried or baked. It is then covered with tomato sauce and mozzarella or Parmesan cheese and served over pasta. 

What cut of meat is Veal Parmesan? 

You want to typically go for a top or bottom round. These cuts are taken from the hindquarters of the veal calf and are relatively lean. The rounds can be roasted, grilled, or sautéed and then sliced thinly for use in veal parmesan. 

Why is it called veal parmesan? 

Veal parmigiana, or veal Parmesan, is a dish of Italian origin that consists of a breaded cutlet of veal covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella or Parmesan cheese, named after the city of Parma in the region of Emilia-Romagna. 

What does Veal Parmesan taste like? 

If you had Grilled Chicken Parmesan or any chicken parmesan before then you’ll guess easily the taste. It’s a blend of crispy, cheesy, saucy piece of comfort food! 

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make veal parmesan ahead of time. Just assemble the dish, then cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time if the dish is cold when it goes into the oven.

Nutrition Facts

Veal Parmesan

Amount Per Serving

Calories 703
Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Trans Fat 0.01g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 255mg85%

Sodium 1746mg76%

Potassium 1143mg33%

Carbohydrates 49g16%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 62g124%

Vitamin A 1389IU28%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 547mg55%

Iron 6mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.