This dish is a secondo — the main course of an Italian meal, served on its own with a contorno alongside.
Saltimbocca
Tender veal, savoury prosciutto, and fragrant sage meet in a glossy butter and white wine sauce. This Roman favourite cooks quickly but arrives with remarkable depth: crisp-edged cutlets, delicate herbs, and bright pan juices. It is an intimate second course, polished enough for company yet simple enough for two tonight.
- Cook Time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Pairing
- Frascati
The Story
Saltimbocca means ‘jumps in the mouth,’ a name that suits this spirited Roman combination of veal, prosciutto, and sage. The cutlets are thin enough to cook in minutes, while a dusting of flour encourages golden edges and gives the pan sauce body. Prosciutto seasons the meat as it sears; sage perfumes the butter without overwhelming it. A splash of dry white wine lifts the browned fond and balances the richness. Served straight from the pan with its glossy juices, saltimbocca is proof that a short ingredient list can deliver the confidence and ceremony of a true Roman secondo beautifully indeed.
Ingredients
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Nutrition notes (verified ingredients)
- extra-virgin olive oilper 100 g: 800 kcal · 0 g protein · 93.3 g fat · 0 g carbs
≈ 60 kcal · 0 g protein · 7 g fat · 0 g carbs per serving (estimated from 1 of 8 ingredients — metric quantities of verified ingredients only)
Not yet verified against FoodData Central: small veal cutlets, thin slices prosciutto di Parma, fresh sage leaves, plain flour, unsalted butter, dry white wine, freshly ground black pepper.
Nutrition data: USDA FoodData Central (snapshot 2026-09-11). Per-serving estimates assume the recipe is portioned evenly; per-100 g values are fixed reference figures.
Method
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Frascati
Fresh orchard fruit and gentle almond notes lift the butter sauce and complement prosciutto and sage.
Pairing notes
This pairing is editorial guidance for the dish — look for a bottle from Lazio at any wine shop you like. No retailer links are active on this site. See our affiliate disclosure.