Food Recipes Dinner Meat Dishes Wood-Grilled Veal Chops with Tomato-Basil Salsa Be the first to rate & review! Steven Raichlen's favorite way to prepare veal chops—a sumptuous cut of meat—involves searing them on the grill and topping them with a fresh tomato-basil salsa, a recipe from the Côte d'Azur. Oak is the best wood for grilling these chops. It is readily available, burns hot and imparts a lovely flavor.Plus: More Grilling Recipes and Tips By Steven Raichlen Steven Raichlen Steven Raichlen is an award-winning culinary writer, lecturer, and TV host. Considered the foremost authority on modern barbecue, he has published 32 books, including international bestseller The Barbecue Bible, and hosted a handful of television shows. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 30, 2015 Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: © Amy Neunsinger Yield: 4 Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients Veal Four 3/4-pound veal rib chops 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon chopped oregano Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper Sauce 2 tomatoes—peeled, seeded and diced 20 basil leaves, slivered 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar Salt and freshly ground pepper Directions Set the veal chops in a large glass baking dish and add the olive oil, lemon juice and oregano. Season with salt and pepper and turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a glass or ceramic bowl, toss the tomatoes with the basil and garlic. Add the olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar and toss gently. Season generously with salt and pepper. Light a grill, preferably using oak for fuel. Grill the chops over a medium-hot fire for 6 to 7 minutes per side for medium; rotate the chops 90 degrees after 3 minutes on each side for attractive grill marks. Transfer the chops to a platter and let stand for 2 minutes before spooning the sauce on top and serving. Suggested Pairing An elegant California Cabernet Sauvignon would have enough tannic edge to take on the salsa but plenty of fruity flavor to complement the chops. Originally appeared: June 1999 Rate It Print