What Kind Of Foods Are Best Paired With Italian Gremolata?

Gremolata is a distinctly Italian condiment consisting of garlic, lemon zest, and parsley, as well as salt and pepper. The combination of ingredients imbues dishes with a bright flavor that can elevate recipes, which may otherwise be too heavy or uniform in their flavor profiles. Despite how delicious this condiment is, it's also quite easy to make in your own kitchen.

Simply take fresh parsley and garlic and chop until fine. You want a nice, rustic texture, but you don't want the parsley and garlic to become pulverized. Place chopped parsley and garlic in a bowl and add lemon zest, salt, and pepper. To ensure the different flavors fuse together beautifully, crush the ingredients with the back of a spoon while they're in the bowl. You can then add the mixture to dishes or incorporate a small portion of olive oil and use it as a marinade. Now that you're a bona fide gremolata master, the next step is to decide how to use the condiment.

Osso buco is a traditional Italian dish believed to have originated in Milan during the 1800s. The recipe consists of a veal shank, which is where the dish gets its name (FYI, osso buco means bone with a hole in English). The veal is cooked in a pan with tons of savory ingredients, such as onions, plum tomatoes, chicken broth, and many others. Osso buco is typically served with risotto or noodles, but you can substitute potatoes if you're going for a truly hearty meal.

While the veal that makes up this dish offers amazingly succulent flavors, most chefs don't believe it's complete until it's been dressed with homemade gremolata. The fresh, lively taste of gremolata adds complexity to the dish and tempers some of the richness of the veal and the ingredients it's cooked with. Of course, gremolata also pairs beautifully with many other preparations, some of which may surprise you.

If you're looking for a fresh and enticing breakfast option, keep in mind that gremolata is a wonderful accompaniment for eggs. Whether you prefer your eggs scrambled or fried, topping them with the perfect portion of gremolata infuses the dish with so much fresh flavor. For an ideal pairing, serve eggs atop a crusty slice of bread and spoon the condiment over them. In addition to tasting amazing, your loved ones will also enjoy this sophisticated dish from an aesthetic perspective.

Gremolata can also be used to enhance side dishes, including roasted vegetables. Roasted carrots are a great rustic addition to main courses, including meat and poultry preparations. In this case, the freshness of the gremolata will mesh beautifully with the mildly sweet flavor of the carrots. Gremolata is also a nice addition to pasta dishes, such as linguine. The condiment will offset the creamy goodness of linguine, and you can enhance the texture further by adding some breadcrumbs to the dish. Now that you know all the wonderful ways gremolata can be used, it's time to whip up a batch on your own!