As someone who loves exploring new and unique ingredients, I was intrigued when I first heard of veal bacon. This less common bacon variety definitely sparked my curiosity!
In this article, I’ll uncover all the details on veal bacon – what it is, how it tastes, health benefits, where to find it, and how to cook with it. Whether you’re a bacon aficionado or just bacon-curious, read on to get the full scoop on veal bacon!
What Exactly is Veal Bacon?
Veal bacon comes from young calves rather than pork. It is made from the belly, breast, or loin sections of veal cattle.
The veal typically comes from calves 16-18 weeks old weighing 180-250 pounds. Male dairy calves are commonly used since females are needed for milk production.
How Veal Bacon is Made
Veal bacon follows a similar process to regular pork bacon
- Veal belly/loin meat is trimmed of excess fat and connective tissue
- Cured using a dry salt or wet brine cure
- Spices like black pepper, garlic, and chili are sometimes added
- Cold smoked slowly to enhance flavor and color
- Sliced and packaged for sale
Comparing the Taste to Pork Bacon
Veal bacon has a milder, more delicate taste than pork. The fine texture comes from the young animals. The flavor is lightly sweet, savory and buttery – not as salty or smoky as pork.
Some say it’s similar to prosciutto in its soft, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Definitely a unique alternative to the crispy crunch of regular bacon.
Health Benefits of Choosing Veal Bacon
A major health advantage over pork is veal bacon’s leanness. Pork bacon contains 50% fat, while veal has only about 15% since it comes from younger animals.
Veal bacon has up to 40% less saturated fat and cholesterol than pork, making it a leaner choice. It provides protein while limiting fat and sodium Of course, moderation is still key even with the healthier veal option
Where to Buy Veal Bacon
While less common than pork, veal bacon availability is increasing with its growing popularity:
- Specialty butchers and online meat delivery services
- High-end grocers like Whole Foods
- Farmers markets, especially those with local meats
- Italian markets and delis
- Directly from local veal farms and ranches
Cooking with Veal Bacon – Delicious Recipes
The mellow flavor and velvety texture of veal bacon complements certain cooking methods:
- Wrapped scallops – Crisp bacon around seared scallops
- Onion-Gruyere tart – Line a tart pan with veal bacon and fill with caramelized onions and cheese
- Apple sandwiches – Fried veal bacon with sliced apples, arugula, goat cheese on toast
- Veal bacon mac and cheese – Diced veal bacon baked into ever-popular mac and cheese
- Roasted Brussels sprouts – Toss sprouts with veal bacon in the oven for a smoky pairing
Storing and Freezing Veal Bacon
To maintain freshness, store veal bacon properly just like regular bacon:
- Unopened package keeps 7-10 days refrigerated
- Once opened, lasts 5-7 days tightly wrapped in fridge
- For freezing, wrap very well in plastic and freezer bags – lasts 2-3 months
- Avoid picking up odors by double wrapping in foil and plastic
Now that you’re a veal bacon expert, give this unique specialty meat a try! Its subtle flavor and silky texture make for a special cooking ingredient. Veal bacon is a delicious way to add gourmet flair to familiar dishes.
How to make bacon recipe at home!
Well this is a first for me, veal bacon recipe. I think the high price of veal breast is the reason you have never heard of or seen it on a menu or in a store. But I can say that it tasted great!
I bought three veal breasts a while ago, but they got mixed up with three veal shoulders. You can read all about it in an older post.
But I am down to my last veal breast which is fairly large. I wanted to make bacon out of half of it. The other half I made Veal pastrami which I will post shortly. Both take a similar path to begin with which involves curing the meat.
It is a really easy process but just takes days to get to your final product. To make this homemade veal bacon, start to finish, will take you about a week or so. So if you are in hurry, lets begin.