A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Hi folk, popping in from BeNeLux hoping for some hints.

I'm looking to make vitello tonnato for a special occasion in a couple of weeks time; I've not done this dish before.

I'm comfortable with the tonnato side of things, but as to the meat, should I look to rub-roast it or broth-simmer it?

My internet search results seem to be split on recipes regarding this, just wondered if someone here has any thoughts?

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

I like the website GialloZafferano. Their recipes are simple and reliable. In this recipe they just simmer the veal in water.
https://blog.giallozafferano.it/cuci...nnato-ricetta/

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

My butcher told me he cooks the veal in veg stock and obviously he has a meat slicer to slice the veal very thinly.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Nice website, some good ideas in there, thank you.

Thanks Lorna, it seems that simmering in stock is the way to go.

I don't have a slicer, but I've successfully made a Japanese-style carpaccio dish by almost freezing the meat to firm it before slicing. A 700-800 gm cut should be manageable.

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Aside, while searching around, I discovered Pallotte Cacio e Uova, so that's going on the to-try list.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

You can also get away with using a cheaper meat, e,g, vitellone, as long as it cuts well.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Thanks for that, I had never heard of vitellone before. 'Aged' veal, who knew? I'm thinking that I'll have to take what I can get, even down to the cut, which barring a miracle will be rump.

If I could summon up the courage to head into Antwerp to some high-end butcher, I may have a chance of finding 'Eye round', but here in the sticks there's less choice.

I really like it that one can learn good stuff here simply by asking in the right place.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Vitellone is just beef from cows of between 12 and 18months old. You need something that cuts very fine.
My partner says veal with tuna is frquently served in hospitals in Italy.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

When I said vitellone I didn't mean to be too specific. The point is that any piece of bovine meat that can be cut into reasonable slices will do, unless you're going for something high-class, in which case follow the instructions you've already had. My partner used to achieve good results with a piece of boiling beef as long as it was compact. The dominant flavour is the tuna sauce, so that's at least as important as the cut of beef. No need to spend too much!.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Rock'n'roll time on the test shot, just waiting for the fries.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...cb4a1c77d5.jpg

I think it might need some red bits - capsicum - to finish. That'll be for next week.

Thanks all :thumbup:

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Looks good. Wouldnt mind that for dinner.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

That looks great although I can't stand olives.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

I do like olives, but thought that the presentation could be bettered, so I went with this for last Friday evening's feast.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...7bccd8b18e.jpg


Tomatoes rather than capsicum, with the olives in a small bowl on the side.

Oh, and I caved in and bought a meat slicer ;)

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Did you use homemade maionaise? Its very different from the Heinze stuff.

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

Indeed I did, basing it on this recipe from Felicity Cloake but reducing the overall oil quantity from that recipe to around 180ml, and splitting the olive/sunflower mix half and half. And using two egg yolks.

As it was just being used as a vehicle for tuna/anchovy I didn't put too much thought into herbs, mustard, etc this time, but will be paying more attention on future escapades.

It's much better than commercial mayo :thumbs_up:

Re: A culinary question - this for carnivores.
 

I make it the same but with garlic and French mustard. When I first made it I was shocked how good it was.