Beef osso buco
Osso buco is a classic Italian dish traditionally made with veal, but our version swaps in beef shanks for a heartier twist. Slow-cooked to tender perfection in a divine white wine sauce, the beef becomes meltingly soft, while the bone marrow adds a rich depth of flavour.
Preparation: 20 mins
Cooking: 2–2½ hrs
Serves: 4
Difficulty: easy
Ingredients
- 4 beef shanks, about 3–4 cm thick (bone-in)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 2 celery sticks, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 250ml white wine
- 400g fresh cherry tomatoes
- 250ml beef stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 sprig of fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
Recipe
- Season the beef shanks with salt and black pepper. Cover all sides with plain flour, shaking off any excess.
- Warm the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the beef and sear until golden brown, about 4–5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Using the same pan, lower the heat to medium and add the chopped onion and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and fry for another 1–2 minutes.
- Deglaze with the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the pan. Let the wine simmer for a few minutes until it reduces by half.
- Add the tomatoes, beef stock, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary.
- Return the beef shanks to the pan, nestling them into the liquid. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat and cover the pan. Slow-cook for about 2–2.5 hours, until the meat is tender and almost falls off the bone.
- Check the seasoning and adjust if needed.
Serve with creamy mashed potatoes, polenta, gnocchi or – as Italians traditionally enjoy this comforting dish – with risotto alla Milanese. And don’t forget some crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce!
As the evenings draw in, here’s some more inspiration to warm you up – if you’re a fan of melt-in-your-mouth beef, why not try our shredded beef tacos or slow-cooker beef stroganoff.