Meats and oven dishes

Vitela assada à moda portuguesa

Slowly roasted veal with wine, garlic, bay leaves and golden potatoes.

RegionNationwide / North
DifficultyMedium
Total time2 hours 30 minutes
Servings6 servings
Photo of Vitela assada à moda portuguesa — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Vitela assada à moda portuguesa is a family celebration dish designed for slow roasting with time and care.

The secret is to season well, roast slowly and let the potatoes absorb the sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg veal suitable for roasting
  • 1 kg of potatoes
  • 5 cloves of garlic
  • 200 ml of white wine
  • 100 ml of olive oil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper
  • Parsley, to finish

Method

  1. Season the meat with garlic, wine, bay leaves, paprika, salt and pepper.
  2. Let it rest for a few hours.
  3. Place the veal in a roasting dish with the olive oil and marinade.
  4. Roast covered until the veal begins to become tender.
  5. Add the potatoes and continue roasting uncovered.
  6. Slice and serve with the sauce.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Roasting slowly keeps the meat juicy.
  • Baste the meat during roasting.
  • Add the potatoes later so they do not fall apart.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Use maminha, lagarto (eye of round) or paleta (beef shoulder/chuck) as Brazilian adaptations.
  • Sweet paprika can be used in place of Portuguese colorau.

Pairing

A red wine from Douro or Dão. Content intended for people over 18 years of age. Drink in moderation.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from Portuguese culinary tradition. Like every traditional recipe, it may vary by region, family and cook.

Do you have a Portuguese family recipe?

Send it to the Empório Portugal community. Submitted recipes are reviewed before any publication.

Submit my recipe

Quick facts

Prep
30 min
Cooking
2 hours
Total time
2 hours 30 minutes
Yield
6 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Occasion
Sunday, Easter, celebrations

Pairing

A red wine from Douro or Dão. Content intended for people over 18 years of age. Drink in moderation.

Empório tip

Roasting slowly keeps the meat juicy.

Carta de Portugal

Receive Portuguese recipes, guides and stories.

An editorial selection from Empório Portugal, without exaggerated promises and with respect for your privacy.

Subscribe to the newsletter