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Osso buco

Slow cooked meals aren't only to be enjoyed during autumn and winter - braised in a mixture of chicken broth and apple cider, this sweet and mellow osso buco is a scrumptiously comforting eat all year round!
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • Ghee or butter
  • Fine grain pink Himalayan salt or sea salt and cracked black pepper
  • 2 thick slices veal or beef shank (about 10 oz. / 275 g each)
  • 3 C / 450 g yellow onions, finely diced
  • 3-4 medium carrots (about 10 oz. / 275 g), finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 1 heaping tbsp garlic confit or roasted garlic or 3-4 cloves minced garlic (garlic confit and roasted garlic offers a subtle, mild garlic flavor)
  • 1 can (5.5 fl. oz. / 156 ml) tomato paste
  • 3 C / 750 ml chicken broth
  • 1 C / 250 ml apple cider
  • 4 dried bay leaves
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 pinch red chili flakes (optional)
  • Fine grain pink Himalayan salt or sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 handful curly-leaf parsley, chopped (you can add grated lemon zest and minced garlic too for a classic gremolata topping)

Instructions

  • Heat a large deep pan (I use a sauté pan) over medium/high heat and add some ghee.
  • Season the meat generously with salt and pepper and brown on both sides.
  • Remove the meat from the pan an set aside on a plate.
  • In the same pan, add onions (add more ghee if necessary).
  • Turn down the heat a bit (around medium) and cook onions until soft and translucent.
  • Add carrots and celery and cook for a couple of minutes.
  • Add garlic confit and tomato paste, combine well.
  • Add broth and apple cider to deglaze the pan.
  • Add bay leaves, thyme, rosemary and chili flakes.
  • Add the meat (...and any drippings on the plate, please) back to the pan.
  • Stir to combine everything.
  • Turn down the heat to low and let the dish simmer, lid ajar, for about 2 hours. Once in a while, carefully stir the dish.
  • Remove the lid and let the dish simmer and reduce yet another hour.
  • After a total 'simmer time' of 3 hours the meat should be 'fall of the bone'-tender and the sauce nicely thickened.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Remove bay leaves before serving.

TO SERVE

  • Serve the osso buco with your favorite side (look above for ideas). Pictured is a mash made of regular potato and celery root (seasoned with PLENTY of garlic confit (you can use roasted garlic too), ghee and liberal amounts of salt and pepper). Absolutely amazing with the sweet and mellow osso buco! Sprinkle with some chopped parsley or gremolata and live your best life!
  • ENJOY!

STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

  • The osso buco stores well in the fridge for 3-4 days and for months in the freezer. I usually end up with leftover sauce, which I freeze and typically eat with pasta and some sort of protein later on - it's so rich, flavorful and delicious!