Osso Buco

An Umbrella Man

We've met by a coincidence, dear ol' friend, one sunny day, inland from even sunnier coast, where you held your beloved sattelite office. It was a pleasure sharing moments with you, and still is, if so allowed and before you have allowed yourself to be taken away. Since away, you allways do as you have meant.

Ossobuco

Ossobuco or osso buco (pronounced [ˌɔssoˈbuːko]; Milanese: òss bus [ˌɔzˈbyːs]) is a specialty of Lombard cuisine of cross-cut veal shanks braised with vegetables, white wine and broth. It is often garnished with gremolata and traditionally served with either risotto alla milanese or polenta, depending on the regional variation. The marrow in the hole in the bone, a prized delicacy, is the defining feature of the dish.

The two types of ossobuco are a modern version that has tomatoes and the original version which does not. The older version, ossobuco in bianco, is flavoured with cinnamon, bay leaf, and gremolata. The modern and more popular recipe includes tomatoes, carrots, celery and onions; gremolata is optional. While veal is the traditional meat used for ossobuco, dishes with other meats such as pork have been called ossobuco.

Ingredients

1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
2 brown onions, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup (40g) plain flour, for coating
Salt & freshly ground pepper
8 (about 1.5kg) veal osso bucco
1 cup (250ml) white wine
400g can diced tomatoes
1 cup (250ml) Massel beef stock
Chopped fresh parsley, to serve
Creamy mashed potato, to serve

Method

Step 1
Preheat oven to 160°C. Heat half the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until softened. Remove from pan and set aside.

Step 2
Season flour with salt and pepper. Coat osso bucco in flour, shaking off any excess. Heat remaining oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Add meat and cook for 2-3 minutes each side or until well browned. Transfer meat to a large ovenproof dish. Spoon over the vegetables.

Step 3
Increase pan heat to high and add the wine. Boil for 2 minutes, scraping any tasty bits off the base of the pan. Stir in the tomatoes and stock. Bring to the boil. Pour over the meat in the dish. The meat should be covered by the liquid. Cover with a lid and cook for 1 3/4-2 hours or until the meat is very tender and the sauce thickens.