Veal chops
with salt and fennel, barbacued with greasy bacon
by
Martino da Como
recipe no. 26 from the “Libro de Arte Culinaria” ca. 1450-60
Note: Instructions in normal letters are pretty clear in the original.
My interpretations are in italics.
Ingredients:
- lean veal chops (from the thighs), cut somewhat thin (Note that the
veal is most likely not crate veal, a cruel and artificial practice
which is not popular in Spain even today and unlikely to have been carried
out in period).
- salt
- fennel
- enough slices of greasy bacon to cover the chops
Put salt and fennel on both sides of the chops. "If you have the time,"
leave them on salt for half an hour.
Barbecue them with the slices of bacon on top (so they won't become
dry) and turn them around as needed. Serve as soon as they're done.
My experiences
I just followed the recipe except for the part about leaving the meat on
salt. They were really nice though a lot of the merit could simply come
from the chops which looked excellent. |