Veal is a special meat that is usually priced a little higher than regular beef. It is a tender, leaner, and a healthier option compared to most other red meats. Famous Austrian dish Wiener Schnitzel is probably one of the most known veal meal all over Europe. However, that one is breaded and fried. The roasted version is also exceptional and enjoyed by Italians and Americans often at family gatherings. In fact, slow cooked veal has been a celebratory meal for centuries, dating back to Romans. If you roast veal brisket in an oven bag, then you can be sure that you will get compliments from your guests about the tenderness and juiciness of the meat.
How to Select the Best Veal for Roast?
It is suggested to look for light, pinkish color of meat when buying veal for roast. If the meat is too red, then it means that the animal is older and less tender. Your goal is to select a leaner cut for the roast. The fat on the outer part should have a white color. Farmers usually feed the calves with low-iron milk, that is why the veal meat has a light color.
Oven Bag Recipe for Veal Roast – with Steamed Asparagus
Steamed asparagus is the best side dish for any kind of meat roast, veal is no exception either. The following recipe makes use of the oven bags self-basting feature to make the meat moist and tender. You can taste that with each bite.
There are many different oven bags that you can use for roasting. However, some are larger and more durable. You should select the right one according to your preference. Here is more detailed info on how to select the best oven bag for roasting various meat types.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds veal brisket
- 1-pound asparagus spears, trimmed
- ½ cup of melted butter (unsalted)
- 2 tablespoon of virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon of mustard
- 2 large onions cut into wedges
- 4 medium size potatoes cut into wedges
- 4 garlic cloves peeled
- ½ tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tablespoon of chopped fresh dill
- ½ tablespoon of dried thyme
- ½ tablespoon of ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon of wheat flour
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). I suggest using an electric roaster oven for the best results.
- Place the trimmed asparagus spears into a microwave safe bowl, and add water.
- Steam the asparagus bowl in the microwave for 6-7 minutes.
- Melt the butter on the stovetop in a medium size pan.
- Pour the melted butter into a small bowl.
- Add the lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, tomato sauce, chopped parsley and dill to the melted butter bowl, and blend well.
- Brush the butter mix onto the meat.
- Sprinkle all the other dried herbs on to the meat.
- Add 1 tablespoon of wheat flour into the oven bag and shake well. Make sure all the bag gets coated with a thin layer of flour. I use self-basting oven bags to make the meat extra juicy and tender.
- Put the meat carefully inside the oven bag.
- Also put the peeled garlic cloves, onion wedges, potatoes and steamed asparagus spears inside the oven bag.
- Close it with the enclosed bag tie.
- Pierce 3 holes on top of the oven bag.
- Cook at 325°F for 1 hour or until the meat temperature shows 160°
- Take it out of the bag once the meat is cooked.
- Cover it with aluminum foil for 10 minutes.
What Temperature Should a Veal Roast Be Cooked to?
As a general rule, you should cook veal at 325°F (163°C). Inner meat should reach to 145°F for rare, 160°F for medium, and 170°F for a well done roast. Use a digital meat thermometer for best results. You can find the suggested cooking times below for veal meat according to your taste.
- Rare; add 25 minutes per each pound of veal meat at 325°
- Medium; add 35 minutes per each pound of veal meat at 325°
- Well-done; add 40 minutes per each pound of veal meat at 325°
In Conclusion
Veal is a healthy and tasty option if you like red meat. You can prepare delicious roasts, steaks, and even burgers as you like. However, the best and most popular way to cook veal is by using an oven bag, especially if you like juicy meat. When shopping, look for the lighter color ones for better taste. It is not always easy to find quality veal at your grocery store, because they are harder to breed, compared to regular beef. If you know how to cook it the right way, then you can make it as delicious as a perfect prime rib.
