Lidias Stuffed Veal Chops Recipes

Steps:

• For the veal: Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan until almost smoking. Sear the chops on both sides until golden brown. Place them in the oven and continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes for medium doneness. Remove the chops to a plate.
• Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan and place over high heat on the stove. Add the shallot and cook until soft. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half. Add the stock and cook until reduced by half. Add the fresh thyme and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place the chops on a plate and pour the sauce over.
• For the peas and carrots: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and garlic and cook until the carrots are slightly softened. Add the stock and thyme, cover the pan and bring to a simmer. Place the carrots in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, add peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Slice a slit horizontally in the side of each chop. Place 2 slices of fontina, 1 slice of pancetta and a quarter of the mushrooms in each opening. Season each chop on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice the mushrooms into 1/4-inch thick slices. Heat the oil in a large saute pan until almost smoking. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook until golden brown. Add the garlic and thyme and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

Steps:

• Arrange an oven rack to accommodate the covered saucepan, and heat the oven to 400°.
• Trim the chops, leaving only a thin layer of fat. With a sharp, thin knife, slice horizontally into the outer edge of each chop, splitting the meaty portion in two almost all the way to the bone, forming a pocket for stuffing. With the mallet, pound and spread the meaty part, flattening it to 1/2-inch thickness. Lift the top flap of the meat you just sliced apart, hold it up, and pound the bottom flap of meat a few more times, spreading it thinner and wider than the upper flap. When all the chops are sliced and pounded, salt them on both sides, using a teaspoon in all.
• Toss together the shredded fontina and the grana (grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano), and divide the cheeses into six equal portions. One at a time, lightly compress the cheese portions into oval patties, and slip them into the sliced chop pockets. Fold the larger bottom meat flap over the top flap-enclosing the cheese-and thread a toothpick through both flaps to keep them together. (The chops can be prepared up to this point a day in advance, sealed in plastic wrap, and refrigerated.)
• Put 2 tablespoons of the butter and the olive oil in the big pan, and set over medium-high heat. Spread the flour on a plate, dredge each chop on both sides, shake off excess flour, and lay it in the pan. When all the chops are in the pan, drop the sage leaves in between them. Cook the chops for 5 minutes or more, turning them once or twice, until well browned on both sides.
• Clear a space in the pan bottom, drop in the tomato paste, and toast it in the hot spot for a minute. Pour the wine over the tomato paste, stir them together, and shake the pan to distribute the liquid. Bring it to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes or so, to reduce.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and whisk it into the pan liquid. Turn the chops over, pour in the chicken stock, sprinkle on the remaining salt, and bring to a boil.
• Cover the pan, and place in the oven. Roast for about 15 minutes, then remove the cover and roast another 10 minutes or so, until the chops are done and the sauce has thickened.
• Remove from the oven, and place the chops on a warm platter. (Drape a towel over the handle of the pan when it comes out of the oven to remind you it is very hot.) If the sauce is thin, put the pan over high heat and reduce until the sauce has the consistency you like.
• Serve right away-while the cheese is still oozing-arranging all the chops on a warm platter and spooning the sauce over, family-style, or on warm dinner plates with mashed potatoes alongside and sauce drizzled over. (If you do have fresh white truffle, shave it on the top of each chop at this moment.)