Veal

Pale tender young calf meat, fine-grained, favored by wealthy households.

Veal is the pale, tender meat of young calves, slaughtered before a year of age. The meat is mild and fine-grained, favored for elegant cooking; wealthy households prize veal over common beef. Fresh veal dries quickly and must be kept cool; smoked veal is delicate and prone to mold. Jerked veal is tough and rare, more suited to drying beef. The skin and bones yield gelatin for stock.