Cajun Grilled Veal Chops

Cajun Spice Blend

Our Cajun Spice blend is not too spicy for those who can’t handle the heat, but does deliver enough of an edge to keep your tastebuds moving! Veal makes for an unsual ingredient that truly elevates the caliber of your dinner and these chops are so delicious that they can be eaten on their own or served with your side of choice.

Ingredients

6 veal chops, 3/4 inches thick

4 tsp. MarnaMaria Cajun Spice blend, divided

3 tbsp. olive oil, divided

Directions

Pat dry the veal chops with paper towels until they are as dry as possible.
Season the veal chops with salt and at least 1/4 tsp. of MarnaMaria Cajun Spice blend per side, using your fingers to push the seasoning into the meat.
Let the chops rest for at least 15 minutes to absorb and develop their flavor.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF as well as a large pan over high heat for at least 3 minutes.
Working in batches of two (or more depending on the size of your pan), add 1 tbsp. olive oil to heated pan and sear each chop, one minute per side, until well browned but not fully cooked through.
Transfer chops to a prepared baking sheet and cook in oven, uncovered, for 7 minutes.
When finshed cooking, remove from oven and let rest, covered with foil, for at least 5 mintues.

This a great recipe for guests and can be cooked restaurant style, meaning you do some prep ahead to make it easier for you later! Sear the chops ahead of time, set them aside, and then just pop them in the oven to finish cooking right before you eat! Your guests will be so impressed and you will have them believing that you pulled this incredible dish out of nowhere!

Serves 6

Wine Paring

Veal has a similar flavor to that of pork. What sets it apart is its texture and sweeter flavored meat. Our Cajun Spice does a great job of playing off the contrast of the sweet meat by giving a sweet and spicy yin and yang. This leaves the options for wine pairings wide open.

With spice, you want to avoid oaked and high alcohol wines and instead focus on wines that have crisp acidity which will help cool down your palate.

Look for fruity, aromatic (to match the herbs in the blend), slightly sweet wines. Key words to keep in mind for this pairing are light colors, light tannins, with smooth flavors.