July 8: Veal Scallopine with Dijon Sauce, Asparagus, and Avocados

   Coarse salt
1 lemon
1 pound very thin asparagus tips
2 ripe Hass avocados
   Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling, plus 2 tablespoons
1 1/4 pounds veal scallopine
  Coarse black pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, plus more for dredging
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock or broth
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/3 cup cream or half-and-half
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or 3 teaspoons dried chives

In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Salt the water. Add a couple of curls of rind from the lemon and the asparagus tips. Cook the tips for 3 minutes, then drain and reserve.

Cut into and all around the pits of the avocados. Scoop the flesh from the avocados, and slice. Dress the sliced avocados with a little lemon juice, a drizzle of EVOO, and a pinch of salt and reserve.

Preheat your largest skillet over medium heat. Season the veal with salt and pepper on both sides. Dredge the scallopine in a little flour.

Add the 2 tablespoons of EVOO and 2 tablespoons of the butter to the hot skillet. When the butter melts into the oil, add the veal and cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until evenly light golden in color.

Place the veal on a platter under a loose tent of foil.

Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and the tablespoon of flour to the skillet.

Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the wine and scrape up the pan drippings with a wooden spoon. Whisk the stock into the wine and add the thyme, salt, pepper, and mustard. Stir in the cream, then remove from the heat.

Arrange the asparagus and sliced avocados over the veal and pour a line of sauce over the top. Garnish the dinner plates or platter with chopped chives and serve.

4 SERVINGS

RR says about this recipe: "This dish is one buttery, delicious, edible ode to spring. (Also, the flavor is so sexy, it could bring on some serious birds-and-bees action!)" This meal certainly is very tasty, if expensive! The veal was delicious, the avocado gave it a nice touch. The asparagus was perfect, and the sauce was so good! I would have eaten it all by itself! I only changed the recipe to call for dried thyme instead of fresh and added that you could also used dried chives.