Growing up in an Italian household we often ate ground veal recipes. Veal was an ingredient that was used often rather than beef. Ground Veal can be substituted anywhere you would normally use beef and you might be surprised at how good it tastes!
Of course, ground beef wasn't ignored all together, we had plenty of recipes using ground beef and beef in general.
If you like the taste of veal, then you'll love these other dishes on this site like Tender Braised Osso Bucco made with Veal Shanks, Veal Parmigiana for the perfect veal sandwich, or my Sicilian Baked Lolli a recipe passed down from generation to generation.
What's the Difference Between Ground Veal and Ground Beef?
While ground beef and ground veal both come from cow meat, there are some subtle differences to take note of when you use them in ground veal recipes. For example:
Flavor - Ground veal is milder and more delicate with a subtle sweetness while ground beef has a stronger more robust and beefy flavor.
Texture - Ground veal is finer and more tender in texture due to the younger age of the animal while ground beef is coarser and has a firmer texture, especially in leaner cuts.
Fat Content -Ground veal is leaner with lower fat content than most ground beef varieties. As well, ground beef is available in different fat ratios while ground veal is not.
Color - Ground veal is lighter pink in color due to the younger age and diet of the calf while ground beef is darker red, with variations depending on on fat content and aging.
Usage and Cooking - Ground veal is often used in delicate dishes like veal meatballs, meatloaf or Bolognese for a softer texture. While Ground beef is more commonly used in burgers, chili, tacos and hearty meat sauces due to its richer taste.
Price and Availability - Ground veal is slightly more expensive and sometimes harder to find due to lower production while ground beef is more affordable and widely available.
Where do you find Ground Veal?
When I'm going to make ground veal recipes, I usually try to plan ahead and buy my ground veal from my local supermarket. Here in Ontario, Canada it's a common product to have in the refrigerated meat section of the supermarket.
But if I'm looking for a specialty item, I may have to take a trip to the butcher where they'll have more selection on meats and cuts of meats that I can't normally find at my local super market.
Your local butcher is the place to go if your supermarket doesn't carry veal meat.
What to Make with Ground Veal
There are quite a few ground veal recipes available, here are our favorites (not in any order).
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Italian Stuffed Peppers
These Baked Italian Stuffed Peppers use ground veal and they are savory, rich and will have you reaching for seconds, and thirds. This especially makes an all in one hearty meal if you don't know what to make for dinner.
Italian Pappardelle al Ragu
This is an Italian pappardelle al ragù recipe by Chef Eugenio Maiale with three types of minced meat: chicken, pork and ground veal. It’s incredibly flavorful and delicious.
Homemade Potato Gnocchi with Veal Ragu
Gnocchi is one of my all time favorite pastas even though it's a dumpling! Top it off with a savory ground veal ragu and you've got yourself a match made in heaven!
Veal Burgers with Port Onions
This ground veal recipe for Veal Burgers with a rose veal patty fully loaded with nutty Gouda cheese, crispy Parma ham and sticky slowly cooked port onions.
This indulgent burger ground veal recipe definitely falls into the “gourmet” category and it takes a while to cook but it is well worth the wait!
Tasty Three Meat Cannelloni
One of my all time ground veal recipes this three meat cannelloni is the perfect Sunday lunch idea. Your family won't be able to get enough and it's so easy to make!
Baked Veal Saltimbocca
The classic Veal Saltimbocca alla Romana ground veal recipe is an easy to make Baked Meatball form! Served in a delicious Brown Butter Sage Sauce!
These delicious meatballs are packed with flavor and they definitely "jump into your mouth!" They’re simple, quick to make, and can be used in a variety of ways.
Spaghetti and Veal Meatballs
Spaghetti and Meatballs made of veal or Spaghetti con Polpette di Vitello is a classic Italian dish that has been enjoyed by families for generations. There's something comforting about a big bowl of tender spaghetti smothered in a rich tomato sauce and topped with juicy veal meatballs.
Italian White Ragu Pasta with wild Mushrooms
This traditional white ragu pasta with ground veal recipe is full of flavor! It uses a combination of ground meats, pancetta, and mushrooms, giving you a rich umami dish that is perfect to impress guests and family.
Rice in the Oven - Riso al Forno
Another great dish using ground veal is my Rice in the Oven, or as my mom called it Riso al Forno is another dish she made often. In fact, it was one of my favorite dishes growing up. Made similar to Rigatoni al Forno but using arborio style rice.
Tourtière (French Canadian Meat Pie)
Tourtière is a beloved meal from Quebec, Canada, where I grew up. It’s a true familial meal everyone loves to eat, kids included, especially around the holiday season. It is usually served with ketchup for the little ones or homemade ketchup (chutney) for the grown-ups.
Tender Italian Meatloaf Recipe with Ground Veal and Red Wine Sauce
This Italian Meatloaf with ground Veal and Tomato Sauce is the most tender meatloaf I have ever made. The red wine tomato sauce brings such tang to this meatloaf that it not only intensifies the meatloaf but brings moisture to the dish making it the perfect comfort food.
And there you have it, 10 ground veal recipes to choose from that will have you cooking like a pro in the kitchen.
It's not surprising to see that ground veal can be used in almost any recipe where you use ground beef. The taste is not as pungent as aged beef and brings a more delicate taste to virtually anything you cook.
Bon Appetit!
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