
Vitello Tonnato
User Reviews
5.0
42 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
35 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
381 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Appetizer
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Cuisine
Italian

Vitello Tonnato
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Delicious slices of veal coated in the most sublime and silky tonnato sauce, a mayonnaise made from tuna, anchovies and capers - Vitello Tonnato is one of Italy's greatest dishes. A wonder of taste and texture.
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Ingredients
For the Veal
- 1.3 lb veal round or boneless shoulder or leg
- 1 onion peeled and quartered
- 1 tick celery
- 2 garlic cloves peeled
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp salt
For the Tonnato Sauce
- 5 oz good quality tuna (150g) canned or jarred in olive oil or water (drained).
- 1 oz anchovies in oil (30g) small tin (add the oil to the mix for more flavour).
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 eggs hard boiled
- 1 lemon juice of
Garnishes
- 2 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
For the veal
- Add the veal to a medium pan and pour in enough water to completely cover it. Add the onion, celery, garlic, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns and fennel seeds.
- Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat so that it's gently bubbling. Cook, covered for 90 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely, then wrap the meat in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (This will assist in slicing it thinly).
- Strain the poaching liquid through a sieve for use as a light stock/broth in another recipe.
Making the tonnato sauce
- Add the hard-boiled eggs, tuna, anchovies (in their oil), and lemon juice to a jug or and blend using an immersion blender (or regular blender/food processor) until smooth.Gradually add the olive oil in a steady stream while blending to achieve a creamy consistency. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little of the chilled poaching liquid to thin it out.The finished sauce should be thick and creamy, like mayonnaise.
- Remove the veal from the fridge, and using a sharp knife, slice into very thin slices.
- Arrange these slices in a single layer on a large serving platter. Spread over a the tonnato sauce in the centre.Garnish generously with the capers and parsley.Serve with a few lemon wedges.
Notes
- It's frequently served as part of an antipasti, to be savoured before the main course. I prefer to serve mine with plenty of bread and a straightforward plate of crisp lettuce 'cups' to hold a bit of sauce and meat.
- Refrigerating the meat before slicing
- Make in advance
- Use any leftover sauce
- Fridge - Vitello tonnato will remain fresh in the fridge (tightly wrapped in plastic) for up to a week.
- Freezer - It is not suitable for freezing.
- If you refrigerate the meat after it has cooled it will be much easier to cut into thin slices. Vitello Tonnato works well with finely sliced meat, so this is a great way to get that authentic appearance.
- I prepare my vitello tonnato well in advance to let the flavour develop. You can make yours up to 4 days in advance and keep in the fridge. This REALLY makes a wonderful difference. It's not essential, but try both and you'll agree I'm sure. Remove about 1 hour before you want to eat to come to room temperature. The flavour is better at room temperature!
- If there's any leftover sauce, try tossing some freshly boiled baby potatoes into the mix. They're absolutely divine!
- Make a tuna burger! This is one of the most delicious ways to use up some sauce. I seared a thick tuna or swordfish steak on the BBQ grill and popped into a burger bun with rocket and lettuce, red onion slices and a healthy dollop of Tonnato sauce. Divine!
- It's also just amazing with some French fries!
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
381kcal
(19%)
Carbohydrates
5g
(2%)
Protein
28g
(56%)
Fat
28g
(43%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
17g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
175mg
(58%)
Sodium
806mg
(34%)
Potassium
496mg
(14%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
233IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
13mg
(14%)
Calcium
64mg
(6%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 381 kcal
% Daily Value*
Calories | 381kcal | 19% |
Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
Protein | 28g | 56% |
Fat | 28g | 43% |
Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 17g | 85% |
Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
Cholesterol | 175mg | 58% |
Sodium | 806mg | 34% |
Potassium | 496mg | 11% |
Fiber | 1g | 4% |
Sugar | 1g | 2% |
Vitamin A | 233IU | 5% |
Vitamin C | 13mg | 14% |
Calcium | 64mg | 6% |
Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
42 reviews
Excellent
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