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Two golden veal piccata cutlets on a white plate with glossy lemon-caper butter sauce and fresh parsley

Lemon Caper Veal Piccata

Tender veal cutlets seared golden, finished in a lemon-caper butter pan sauce. A 40-minute stovetop dish that eats like restaurant food.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 410

Ingredients
  

Veal and dredge
  • 600 g veal cutlets (scaloppine) about 4-6 pieces, pounded to 4-5 mm thickness
  • 60 g all-purpose flour for dredging
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
Pan and sauce
  • 80 g unsalted butter divided: 30 g for searing, 50 g cold for finishing
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
  • 120 ml dry white wine Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
  • 120 ml low-sodium chicken stock
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice from about 1.5 lemons
  • 0.5 lemon thinly sliced into rounds for garnish
  • 3 tbsp capers in brine drained
  • 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped, for finishing

Method
 

Prep the veal
  1. Place the veal cutlets between two sheets of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound any pieces thicker than 5 mm to an even 4-5 mm.
  2. Mix the flour, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish. Pat the cutlets dry with paper towels, then dredge each one in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Set on a plate in a single layer.
Sear the cutlets
  1. Heat a 12-inch stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and 30 g butter. When the butter stops foaming and the pan is hot, add half the cutlets in a single layer.
  2. Sear for 2 minutes without moving until the underside is golden brown. Flip and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more until the other side is golden and the edges are fully opaque. Transfer to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
  3. Add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil and repeat with the second batch of cutlets. Transfer to the plate with the first batch.
Build the pan sauce
  1. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the sliced garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant but not browned.
  2. Pour in the white wine. Scrape up the browned fond from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Let the wine reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the chicken stock, lemon juice, and lemon slices. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly and coats a spoon lightly.
  4. Stir in the capers and taste the sauce. Adjust salt carefully - capers add brine.
  5. Pull the pan off the heat completely. Add the cold butter in 4-5 small pieces, whisking steadily between each addition, until the sauce is glossy and emulsified.
Finish and serve
  1. Return the cutlets to the pan and spoon the sauce over them. Let them sit in the sauce for 1 minute off the heat to warm through without overcooking.
  2. Transfer cutlets to warm plates, spoon the remaining sauce over the top, and scatter with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

If the sauce tightens too much while you finish the butter, add a tablespoon of warm chicken stock and whisk it back together before plating.