Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth

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Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

By now, you guys probably know about the great love affair I have with my butcher shop, McKinnon’s. When I go, I partly have a shopping list in mind, and I partly decide what to buy based on what looks good, what’s on sale, and what’s new or unusual. That last part is how I came home with a big veal flank the other day.

Now, I’ve made plenty of veal in my day, but have never encountered a whole veal flank before. And you know me: I just couldn’t resist. So this was an experiment. A happy, delicious experiment, as it turns out.

(Has anyone cooked one of these before? If you have, definitely pipe up and let me know what you did and how it came out!)

If you can’t find a veal flank like this, this recipe for whiskey cream broth is great on just about any kind of veal (or chicken, for that matter).

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

So what is a veal flank, anyway?

Good question. Let’s start with a picture.

Here’s my veal flank (you may see already why I couldn’t resist bringing it home…it’s big, it’s kind of a funny shape, it’s clearly folded under itself so you can’t see exactly how big it is…):

The top part looks very similar to a beef flank steak in size, shape, and long-grained texture.

When I flipped it over, I saw that the rib bones were still attached. I thought about trimming them off, but figured that I’d cook it the way I bought it. At least this first time.

There’s a separation between the meat and the ribs, which one of the ladies who works at the butcher advised me makes a fabulous pocket for stuffing.

The flank comes from the belly of the cow�and tends to be on the tougher side (think flank steak) because it’s a well exercised muscle. No problem, I reasoned. Low and slow cooking should be just the thing to tenderize it.

Beef diagram

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth

Based on all this, I decided to braise the veal flank until it was fall-off-the-bone tender.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

I finished it with The Angry Chef’s fabulous whiskey cream broth. It’s one of his signature sauces for veal dishes, and is a great way to conjure up restaurant-quality flavor at home.

Braised Veal Flank in Whiskey Cream Broth

1 whole veal flank, about 3 1/2 lbs
2 Tbls. olive oil
kosher salt
1/2 cup whiskey
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbls butter, cut into thin slices
ground white pepper
1 tsp. garlic, minced
7 fresh sage leaves, cut into short ribbons

For the whiskey cream broth
Pan juices from braised veal flank
1/2 cup whiskey
3/4 cup heavy cream
7 sage leaves, cut into short ribbons

Serves about 4 for dinner

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth: Do a little prep

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grab an ovenproof pan that’s large enough to hold your veal flank. Ideally, it should have a tight-fitting lid. If not, you can improvise one with aluminum foil.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth: Sear the veal

Most good braises start with seared meat. Searing helps develop color and flavor. Sprinkle the veal with kosher salt.

Heat a pan on the stove over high heat for a minute or two. The veal flank was pretty big, so I used my double-burner grill pan.

Drizzle a little olive oil on the pan. Set your flank meaty side down on the pan to sear it.

When the bottom is browned and has started to develop a nice crust, flip it over. It probably won’t lie completely flat. That’s just fine. Sear what you can on the other side.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth: Assemble the veal for braising

When both sides are seared, transfer the veal flank to your roasting pan. Put it in the pan meaty side up.

Pour 1/2 cup of whiskey over it.

Pour in the chicken stock.

Dot the top of the veal flank with butter.

Stack up 7 sage leaves.

Cut them into thin ribbons.

Sprinkle the veal flank with the sage ribbons.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

Sprinkle with chopped garlic and white pepper.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth: Into the oven!

Cover with a tight-fitting lid (or tightly seal with aluminum foil).

Pop the pan into your preheated oven. Braise like this at 350 degrees for about 2 hours, until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

When it’s done, transfer the veal flank to a serving platter.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

Tent with foil while you make the whiskey cream sauce.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth: Make the whiskey cream

After you pull your veal flank out of the roasting pan, you’ll be left with all that lovely braising liquid.

Pour it into a medium-sized pot.

Set it over high heat and bring it up to a boil. While you wait, slice up the other 7 sage leaves just like you did before.

When it’s boiling, toss in the sage.

Lower the heat to medium. Pour in the whiskey.

And the cream.

Whisk to combine.

After a minute or two, it should come back up to a bubble. (If it doesn’t, raise the heat a little.) Simmer for a few minutes, whisking occasionally, to let the sauce come together and thicken a little.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth: Serve and enjoy!

Like I said, this wound up being a fairly rustic dish. I whacked the veal flank in a few big pieces, cutting between the ribs, and served them on large plates, drizzled with whiskey cream broth.

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

Serve with large, crusty hunks of bread to sop up all that beautiful sauce.

Enjoy!

Rustic Veal Flank with Whiskey Cream Broth at The Hungry Mouse

 

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Jessie Cross is a cookbook author and creator of The Hungry Mouse, a monster online food blog w/500+ recipes. When she's not shopping for cheese or baking pies, Jessie works as an advertising copywriter in Boston. She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and two small, fluffy wolves.

12 COMMENTS

    • Thanks so much! It was really, really good. I would make it again...if I found the veal flank on sale and I wasn't in a rush to eat, if that makes sense. The whiskey cream sauce definitely makes it. The braising gives the meat a wonderful texture. I love, love, love the sauce on top of veal chops. +Jessie
  1. I have to admit I have never eaten veal! I love all your step by step instructions AND I love that pic of the sage. You have such perfect sage leaves! I wish I could find it so nice here!
  2. I had veal when I was a kid but I do not remember how it tastes. I have to put this one my "cooking experiment" list :) I wish there was a meat market like mckinnon's around my way. It's very hard to find a lot of affordable meat in large quantities
  3. THERE COMES THE BEEF! Finally, Jessie! I thought it'll never arrive after you got yourself lost in chocolaty musings (superb I must add)! Glad to see you back in BEEF Country! Quick question: what's the AllClad sauce pan type you are using there? I am going to Tweet your post - It deserves it! Gabi @ Mamaliga
  4. Hey Jessie, I recently also professed my love of McKinnon's in my blog, and Reeni pointed me in your direction :) Love your blog! Are you also in Davis? The veal shank looks amazing, I'm completely impressed! Kerstin :)
  5. This is great! I have a GIANT flank from a cow that I bought and didn't know what it was or what to do with it. In fact, the last one I had, I treated more like short ribs: braised in tomato sauce until falling apart. I'm trying the recipe for Mom's day.

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