Veal, seam fat only, raw
Whole food · Lamb, Veal, and Game Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Veal seam fat is the rich, marbled fat found between muscle groups of young cattle, prized for its high fat content and subtle, delicate flavor. It has a soft, melting texture when cooked, making it ideal for enriching dishes or rendering into tallow. Nutritionally, it is almost pure fat, providing a dense source of energy with virtually no protein or carbohydrates.
Calorie split: 11% protein · 0% carbs · 89% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
Chefs and home cooks love it for its ability to add luxurious depth and moisture to roasts, stews, and sausages. Its mild, buttery flavor complements both rustic and refined cuisines without overpowering other ingredients.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its extremely high fat content (43.75g per 100g) makes it unsuitable for low-fat or heart-healthy diets, and excessive consumption can contribute to elevated cholesterol. To mitigate this, use it sparingly as a flavor enhancer, pair with fiber-rich vegetables, and opt for leaner cuts of veal for the main protein.
Key benefits
- High in energy-dense fat for calorie needs
- Source of fat-soluble vitamins like A and D
- Used to render high-quality tallow for cooking
- Adds richness and mouthfeel to lean meat dishes
- Traditional ingredient in European charcuterie
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Veal seam fat is often used to make 'graisse de veau,' a clarified fat prized in French cuisine for its neutral flavor and high smoke point, ideal for sautéing delicate ingredients.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 44.5 g |
| Energy | 444 kcal |
| Energy | 1857 kj |
| Protein | 12.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 43.8 g |
| Ash | 0.66 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 30.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.87 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 23.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 150 mg |
| Potassium, K | 179 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 89.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.8 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 8.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.04 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.15 mg |
| Niacin | 3.8 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.36 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.23 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 44.9 mg |
| Betaine | 11.7 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.6 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.68 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.18 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 142 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 3.5 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 3.5 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 2.5 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 14.2 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 1.1 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 8.6 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.42 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 4.0 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 21.1 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.40 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 1.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 1.7 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.40 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 18.5 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 16.8 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.08 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 1.0 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.27 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 1.7 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 1.7 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 1.7 g |
| Cholesterol | 83.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.13 g |
| Threonine | 0.55 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.62 g |
| Leucine | 1.00 g |
| Lysine | 1.0 g |
| Methionine | 0.29 g |
| Cystine | 0.14 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.51 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.40 g |
| Valine | 0.69 g |
| Arginine | 0.74 g |
| Histidine | 0.46 g |
| Alanine | 0.74 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.64 g |
| Proline | 0.52 g |
| Serine | 0.47 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.06 g |
FAQ
What is veal seam fat?
Veal seam fat is the fat found between muscle groups in young cattle, known for its high fat content and subtle flavor.
How can I use veal seam fat in cooking?
It can be rendered into tallow for cooking, used to enrich stews and roasts, or incorporated into sausages for added moisture and flavor.
Is veal seam fat healthy?
While it provides energy and fat-soluble vitamins, its very high fat content means it should be consumed in moderation, especially for those managing cholesterol or calorie intake.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.44 kcal/g · 11% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.50 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.