Pork Piccata with lemon and Capers is a deliciously simple Italian-American classic dish made from tender pork tenderloin slices that have been seasoned with kosher salt, freshly ground peppercorns, dredged in all-purpose flour, then sautéed in a combination of authentic olive oil and unsalted butter. The pan drippings are used to make the delicious sauce by adding chicken broth, white table wine, lemon juice, and capers.
Every time I look at the prices of quality veal at the market anymore, I want to cry. I eat chicken so often; I am not feeling the Chicken Picatta idea today. Then it hit me. I remembered my grandmother telling me that during the late ’30s and 40’s they often used pork cuts to make piccata perfect since my favorite market has pork tenderloin roasts on special.
The real origin of the dish Piccata remains unsolved; by many. It is not a dish easily found in authentic Italian restaurants around Italy and seldom found in Italy’s homes. Piccata may be difficult to pinpoint due to lemon and butter being used in many classic Italian sauces with different names in Italy’s other regions.
Many trusted authorities on food history; think that the name veal piccata may have come from Italian-Americans in the United States during the 1930s; like many other notorious Italian-American recipes such as the beloved chicken parmesan and pasta primavera Americans love to devour.
I have to tell you whether Piccata has direct Italian roots or Italian-American roots. It’s one of my classic go-to recipes from my grandmother. You can’t go wrong with this traditional dish in about 15-20 minutes from start to finish; Picatta is ready to share with your dinner guests or family.
Pork Piccata with Capers
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1-3 pound tenderloin roast thinly sliced
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coarse kosher salt
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freshly ground black pepper
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1 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
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Eight tablespoons unsalted butter
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Six tablespoons of authentic extra-virgin olive oil
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juice of 4 fresh lemons
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2/3 of a cup chicken stock
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splash of white table wine
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Spanish capers, rinsed
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fresh parsley, chopped
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fresh slices of lemon optional
Directions
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You will need to either have your butcher slice your tenderloin roast into thin slices before bringing home or slice the tenderloin roast yourself using a very sharp knife into 1/2 of an inch thick slices.
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Season the thinly sliced and lightly pounded pork tenderloin slices with coarse kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
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Dredge the pork tenderloin slices in the all-purpose flour and shake off the excess all-purpose flour.
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Melt two tablespoons of butter with two tablespoons of authentic olive oil.
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When the unsalted butter and authentic olive oil start to lightly bubble or sizzle, add three dredged pork tenderloin pieces and cook for about 5 minutes.
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When pork is browned, flip and cook the other side of pork tenderloin for 5 minutes. Remove the pork from the metal skillet and transfer it to a serving platter.
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Melt two more tablespoons butter and add another two tablespoons of olive oil.
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When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other three pieces of pork tenderloin and brown both sides using the same method as above. Remove the cooked pork tenderloin from the heat and add pork tenderloin to the serving platter.
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Continue the above process with the last two tablespoons of unsalted butter and two tablespoons of authentic olive oil till all the pork tenderloin slices are done.
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Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice, chicken stock, splash of white table wine, and the Spanish capers to the metal skillet.
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Return to the stove and bring to a light boil, scraping up browned bits from the metal skillet for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the cooked pork tenderloin slices to the metal skillet and simmer for about 4- 5 minutes.
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Remove the pork tenderloin and place on a clean platter.
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Add the remaining two tablespoons of the unsalted butter to the sauce and whisk.
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Pour the sauce over the pork tenderloin slices and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices.
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Serve immediately

Pork Piccata with lemon and Capers
Ingredients
- 1-3- pound tenderloin roast thinly sliced
- Kosher salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin Olive Oil
- 4 lemons juice of
- ⅔ cup chicken stock
- 1 ounce white table wine do not use cooking wine
- ¼ cup Spanish Capers rinsed
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 lemons sliced thinly
Instructions
- You will need to either have your butcher slice your tenderloin roast into thin slices before you bring home, or slice the tenderloin roast yourself using a very sharp knife into 1/2 of an inch thick slices.
- Season the thinly sliced and lightly pounded pork tenderloin slices with coarse kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Dredge the pork tenderloin slices in the all-purpose flour and shake off the excess all-purpose flour.
- Melt two tablespoons of butter with two tablespoons of authentic olive oil.
- When the unsalted butter and authentic olive oil start to lightly bubble or sizzle, add three pieces of dredged pork tenderloin and cook for about 5 minutes.
- When pork is browned, flip and cook the other side of pork tenderloin for 5 minutes. Remove the pork from metal skillet and transfer to a serving platter.
- Melt two more tablespoons butter and add another two tablespoons of olive oil.
- When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other three pieces of pork tenderloin and brown both sides using the same method as above. Remove the cooked pork tenderloin from the heat and add pork tenderloin to the serving platter.
- Continue the above process with the last two tablespoons of unsalted butter and two tablespoons of authentic olive oil till all the pork tenderloin slices are done.
- Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice, chicken stock, splash of white table wine, and the Spanish capers to the metal skillet.
- Return to the stove and bring to a light boil, scraping up browned bits from the metal skillet for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the cooked pork tenderloin slices to the metal skillet and simmer for about 4- 5 minutes.
- Remove the pork tenderloin and place on a clean platter.
- Add the remaining two tablespoons of the unsalted butter to the sauce and whisk.
- Pour the sauce over the pork tenderloin slices and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices.
Nutrition
6 Comments
KC Kahn
December 17, 2015 at 6:56 pmPork, lemon, capers oh YUM. I’m loving this Pork Piccata with lemon and Capers combo Heidy!
hmccallum
January 9, 2020 at 2:08 pmThank you, so much KC. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Myfamilymealtime
December 17, 2015 at 12:16 pmThis Pork Piccata with lemon and Capers dish looks amazing, I can never think of things to do with pork and my hubby loves pork.
hmccallum
January 9, 2020 at 2:08 pmThank you for the awesome comment! I appreciate it!
Suzanna @ One Hoolie Mama
December 3, 2015 at 8:56 amThis looks delicious! One of hubby’s favorite meals to order when out to dinner is chicken piccata. I’ve tried making it at home, but I haven’t mastered the perfect balance of the wine, butter, and lemon yet. I’ll try your recipe!
hmccallum
January 9, 2020 at 2:09 pmThank you, Suzanna! I hope it turns out fabulous for you!