Slow-cooked Osso Buco
Servings: 4 –6
Slow-cooked Osso Buco is a flavour-packed, nourishing family-friendly dish, made with simple low-cost ingredients in just one pan. The meat is cooked with vegetables in a tomato-based sauce until fall-apart tender, then topped with a fresh parsley gremolata.
Ingredients
- Gremolata
- ½ bunch flat-leaf Italian parsley, finely chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp freshly minced garlic
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- Osso buco
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1½ tsp sea salt flakes
- 4 –6 beef or veal osso buco (see note 1)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 carrots finely diced
- 2 celery stalks finely diced
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste concentrated puree
- 700 g 1 lb 9 oz tomato passata
- 2 cups 500 ml beef stock
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- Mashed potato to serve
Instructions
- To make the gremolata, combine the parsley, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
- For the osso buco, sprinkle the flour and salt over the meat. Use your hands to coat evenly.
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Cook the osso buco for 5–8 minutes until browned all over. Transfer the meat to a plate and set aside.
- To the same pan, add the carrot, celery, onion and garlic. Cook for 3–4 minutes or until softened.
- Stir the tomato paste through for 1 minute. Add the passata, beef stock, black pepper, bay leaves and thyme.
- Return the beef to the pan, bring it to the boil, place the lid on, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting.
- Cook for 2½ hours. Add ½ cup (125 ml) water halfway through if the sauce starts to stick to the bottom of the pan. At the end of the cooking time, the beef should be tender enough to fall apart. If not, continue cooking in 20-minute intervals.
- Serve with mashed potatoes and a side of steamed green beans and peas. Sprinkle generously with the gremolata.
Notes
Note 1 – Osso buco is made from beef or veal shanks that have been cut crossways to form “steaks”.
Make Ahead
Vegetables – Prepare the vegetables up to 24 hours prior to cooking. Finely chop the carrot, celery and onion, then store refrigerated in separate airtight containers until ready to use. Gremolata – Prepare the gremolata up to 24 hours prior to serving. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use.Leftovers
Osso Buco leftovers are even better the next day! Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge prior to reheating for best results. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Freshly made leftover gremolata can be refrigerated separately in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.Scan for full recipe:
