Cooking nutritious and delicious meals for your baby is one of the joys of new parenthood. Veal is a lean tender meat that can be a great source of protein for babies once they start solids. When prepared properly, veal provides important nutrients like iron zinc and vitamin B12 to support your baby’s growth and development.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through everything you need to know to cook tasty and nutritious veal dishes for your little one.
Choosing the Right Cuts of Veal for Baby
When cooking veal for babies, you’ll want to choose cuts that are mild in flavor and tender in texture. The best cuts of veal for babies include:
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Veal cutlets – Thin slices from the leg these are perfect for cutting into cubes or strips for babies.
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Veal scaloppine – Also sliced from the leg, scaloppine is pounded thin and cooks quickly
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Ground veal – With its soft texture, ground veal is ideal for making baby-friendly pasta sauces or purees.
Avoid larger, tougher cuts of veal like shanks or chops. Stick to the tender cuts that will be easier for baby to chew and swallow.
Preparing Veal Safely for Baby
Proper food handling is especially important when cooking for babies, whose immune systems are still developing. Follow these tips for safe veal prep:
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Choose organic, antibiotic-free veal when possible. This reduces baby’s exposure to hormones and medication residues.
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Wash hands and cooking surfaces thoroughly before and during prep.
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Use a clean cutting board and knife to chop the veal. Avoid cross-contamination.
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Cook veal thoroughly to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill any potential bacteria. Check temperature with a food thermometer.
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Refrigerate cooked veal within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days. Discard if you notice any bad odors or textures.
Cooking Methods for Veal for Baby
The cooking method you choose will depend on your baby’s stage of development. Here are some veal cooking ideas tailored to baby:
For purees (6+ months):
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Bake or simmer veal cutlets until very tender. Blend with breastmilk or water for an iron-rich puree.
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Lightly sauté ground veal, then simmer in broth. Puree the veal and broth together.
For finger foods (8+ months):
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Dice cooked veal cutlets into small chunks. Serve with roasted root vegetables.
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Bread cubed veal cutlets and bake into nuggets. Cut nuggets into strips for grabbing.
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Skewer cubes of veal and vegetables onto baby-safe wood or silicone skewers.
For toddlers:
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Make a simple veal and pasta bake with small pasta shapes and a tomato sauce.
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Bread veal cutlets and bake into miniature schnitzels or parmesan.
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Grill or pan-fry lightly seasoned veal strips, dice or mince for toddlers.
Veal Recipes for Baby
Once you have the basics down, get creative with veal recipes for your little foodie. Here are a few nutritious recipe ideas to try:
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Veal and Sweet Potato Puree – Steam cubes of veal and sweet potato together, then puree with breastmilk and cinnamon.
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Veal Bolognese – Simmer ground veal in a classic bolognese sauce. Toss with small pasta shapes or serve over spiralized zucchini noodles.
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Veal Meatballs – Mix ground veal with breadcrumbs, egg, and herbs. Shape into mini meatballs and bake until cooked through.
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Veal and Apple Nuggets – Coat cubed veal and diced apple in breadcrumbs and bake into snack-sized nuggets.
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Creamy Veal and Carrot Soup – Puree sautéed veal and carrots with broth and a splash of cream for a smooth, warming soup.
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Veal Banh Mi Strips – Marinate sliced veal in soy sauce, lemongrass and garlic, then grill. Serve in strips inside mini baguette rolls.
With the right prep and cooking techniques, veal can be a tasty and wholesome addition to your baby’s menu. Introduce it early to take advantage of this iron-rich food as your baby starts solids and transitions to table foods. Getting creative with seasonings and pairings will make veal something the whole family can enjoy.
How to cook baby’s first meat
FAQ
Can babies eat veal?
How do you cook veal?
How do you cook veal in a frying pan?
Sear the veal in a heavy pan to brown it. Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of cooking oil in a heavy pan. Using tongs, place the veal in the oil. Sear it for 1–2 minutes until it is browned, turning it halfway through. Add liquid to the pan and cover it. Remove the pan from heat. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of broth or water to the pan.
Is veal easy to cook?
There’s no need to be. Veal is easy to cook, and you should make it a part of your cooking routine. Veal can be pan-seared, grilled, sautéed, braised, broiled or stewed, depending on the cut. Choose the right method for the veal cut, and remember one rule: do not overcook this lean meat. Read on to learn how to cook each type of veal cut.
How long do you cook veal in the oven?
Cook the veal at 325 °F (163 °C). Cook for the veal in the oven for 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the size of your veal cut. Avoid overcooking the meat by checking its temperature at the 1.5 hour mark, and every 15–20 minutes after. Insert a digital meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to get an accurate reading. Finished.
What is the easiest veal cut to cook?
We always prefer meat on the rare side, so 145 degrees F is what we aim for when cooking veal. This may be the easiest veal cut to cook. And everybody loves a veal chop! You can pound out a Milanese veal chop to uniform thickness before cooking, or work with a hefty, frenched veal chop.