I know this is something that Americans may turn their nose up at, but if you eat and like Osso Bucco, you’ll LOVE this.
It’s rich, meaty, fall-off-the-bone good, inexpensive to buy and very satisfying, especially sitting on a bed of mashed potato or mashed cauliflower.
And don’t forget to suck out the inside of the bones, where all that calcium-rich bone marrow is!
Cook time – 3 hours 50 mins
Serves 4 to 6
2- 3 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
3 -4 lbs oxtail
4 red onions, peeled and roughly chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and roughly diced
2 stalks celery, peeled, trimmed and roughly diced
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp Colemans English mustard
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
17 fl oz (500 mls) red wine
14 fl oz (400 mls) beef stock
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme
In a bowl, mix the flour with a generous grind of black pepper. Place a large flameproof Dutch oven or casserole pot over a high heat and add the oil.
Pat the oxtail dry with kitchen paper. Roll the pieces in the seasoned flour and add to the pot one by one.
Don’t overcrowd the pan, or you won’t get a nice dark brown color on them, as they will steam and look pale. Do it in two batches.
Brown the oxtail on all sides, turning with the kitchen tongs until the meat is a really rich dark brown color.
Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate.
Preheat the oven to 325 F
Add an extra drop of oil to the pot, reduce the heat and add the onion, carrot and celery.
Fry for 5 minutes until just tender. Stir through the tomato puree, mustard and Worcestershire sauce until evenly combined.
Pour over the red wine, beef stock and balsamic vinegar and pop in the rosemary and thyme sprigs.
Season with salt.
Cover with a lid and place in the oven to cook slowly for 3 1/2 hours or until the meat is falling away from the bone.
Serve on a bed of mashed potato or mashed cauliflower.