Dish guides
What is saltimbocca alla romana?
Saltimbocca alla romana is a Roman main course of thin veal escalopes topped with prosciutto and a sage leaf, pan-fried in butter and finished with white wine. The name means "jumps in the mouth". It contains pork (the prosciutto) as well as veal.
- At a glance
- Saltimbocca alla romana
- Veal escalopes with prosciutto and sage, cooked in butter and white wine.
- Pronunciation
- Say it like sahl-teem-BOHK-kah AHL-lah roh-MAH-nah · IPA /ˌsaltimˈbokka alla roˈmaːna/
- Also written as
- saltimbocca, saltimbocca di vitello, saltimbocca alla romana, chicken saltimbocca
What’s in it
Core ingredients
- thin veal escalopes
- prosciutto crudo (cured ham)
- fresh sage leaves
- butter
- dry white wine
Often added
- a light dusting of flour
- Marsala instead of white wine
- chicken or pork instead of veal (mostly abroad)
- a toothpick holding the layers together
Allergens
| Allergen | How likely |
|---|---|
| Dairy | Typically contains |
| Sulphites | Often contains |
| Gluten | Often contains |
| Eggs | Rarely contains |
| Peanuts | Rarely contains |
| Tree nuts | Rarely contains |
| Shellfish | Rarely contains |
| Fish | Rarely contains |
| Soy | Rarely contains |
| Sesame | Rarely contains |
| Diet | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Pescatarian | No |
| Halal | No |
| Kosher | No |
| Gluten-free | Depends — Only if the escalopes aren't dusted in flour before frying; ask. |
Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
What's in saltimbocca
Thin slices of veal are beaten flat, each topped with a slice of prosciutto crudo and a fresh sage leaf, fixed in place with a toothpick. The slices are often dusted lightly in flour, then fried quickly in butter on both sides. A splash of dry white wine goes into the pan to make a small, savoury sauce that's spooned over the meat.
Sometimes the veal and ham are rolled up rather than left flat, and some cooks use Marsala instead of white wine. The whole thing takes only a few minutes to cook, which may be how it got its playful name.
On the plate
Expect two or three small escalopes, each with a crisp-edged slice of ham and a sage leaf on top, sitting in a little buttery wine sauce. Check for toothpicks and take them out before you eat. In Italy, saltimbocca is a secondo (main course) and comes on its own, so order a contorno such as roast potatoes, chicory or spinach separately if you're hungry.
How to order it
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vorrei i saltimbocca alla romana, per favore. | I'd like the saltimbocca alla romana, please. |
| La carne è infarinata? Sono celiaco. | Is the meat dusted with flour? I have coeliac disease. |
| Che contorno mi consiglia? | Which side dish do you recommend? |
Not to be confused with
- Cotoletta alla milanese — Breaded and fried veal chop, with no ham or sage.
- Scaloppine al limone — Floured veal escalopes in a butter and lemon sauce, with no prosciutto.
- Involtini — Thin slices of meat rolled around a filling and cooked, rather than layered flat.
Frequently asked questions
What does saltimbocca mean?
Saltimbocca literally means "jumps in the mouth", from saltare (to jump) and in bocca (in the mouth). The name suggests the dish is so tasty, or so quick to cook, that it practically leaps into your mouth. Alla romana means Roman style, the original version with veal, prosciutto and sage.
Is saltimbocca pork or veal?
Both, in the classic Roman version. The meat is veal, and it's topped with prosciutto crudo, which is cured pork ham. So even though the main meat is veal, saltimbocca isn't suitable if you avoid pork. Some restaurants, mostly outside Italy, make it with chicken or pork escalopes instead of veal.
Is saltimbocca gluten free?
Not always. Many cooks dust the veal lightly in flour before frying, which adds gluten to the meat and the pan sauce. Others skip the flour, and then the dish is typically gluten-free, as veal, prosciutto, sage, butter and wine don't contain gluten. Ask "La carne è infarinata?" (Is the meat dusted with flour?) before ordering.
How do you pronounce saltimbocca?
Say sahl-teem-BOHK-kah, with the stress on BOHK and a slightly doubled k sound. In IPA it's [ˌsaltimˈbokka]. Alla romana is said AHL-lah roh-MAH-nah. In Italian the dish name is often treated as plural on menus, as in "i saltimbocca", because a portion has several escalopes.
