I have wanted to make and eat Osso Bucco for the longest time and what a perfect excuse when Leopard’s Leap asked me to collaborate on a recipe with me. They wanted me to do a one-pot winter comfort dish to pair with their Culinaria Collection Grand Vin, which is a robust Bordeaux blend that deserves to stand up to something special.

I did a deep dive into researching a recipe and discovered that Osso Bucco is rather controversial. Hailing from Milan, there is debate over whether you include tomatoes or not. Many purists will say a tomato should never go anywhere near the dish, but there are so many well-respected chefs and food writers who insist on including it. I concluded that there are two types of Osso Bucco. The Bianca version, which is without tomato and then the tomato version which is more widely used. I felt that I wanted my version to have tomatoes.

A classic Osso Bucco recipe with risotto Milanese

I cooked this recipe in the oven, low and slow on Saturday, and then reheated it and made the risotto Milanese to serve it with on Sunday. It was utterly delicious and now goes down as one of my all-time favourite comfort meals. Apart from a little prep, it’s one of those magnificent things that derives all its magic from the time it spends cooking itself slowly.

As veal shin is very difficult to come by, I used beef. I think when I make the Bianca version I will try source veal. I served it with risotto Milanese which is essential. I made a version without marrowbone because there was all the delicious marrowbone in the Osso Bucco so I didn’t feel it needed more.

I did, however, finish it off with a rather generous wedge of butter. Risotto needs the fat to give it the silky unctuousness that makes it perfect. I omitted the Parmesan cheese too. This dish is incredibly rich, I don’t think it needs the cheese. Also, White wine should be used in the making of Osso Bucco not red. Keep the red for drinking with it.

A friend advised that I should rather make a double batch and he was so right. If you are going to take the time to cook this, you want leftovers. I’ve frozen off a few portions for those nights when I want something comforting and easy.

Grand Vin is a Bordeaux-style blend with complex layers. Aromas of vibrant red fruit, black currant, and blueberry, perfectly integrated with subtle oak spices and a hint of dark chocolate in the after-taste. The ripe tannins ensure a firm, elegant structure. A sincere wine that will complement well-prepared red meat dishes.

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Lamb shank pie with red wine, rosemary & bay

Recipe – serves 6 – 8 – Adapted from Janice Trapepi

Prep Time:15

Cook Time:2 45

Ingredients

Osso Bucco

6 bone-in beef or veal shin – cut 4 – 5 cm thick
olive oil to fry
½ cup flour
salt & pepper
knob of butter
2 onions finely chopped
4 medium carrots cut into small dice
2 celery stalks
4 cloves garlic minced
400 ml dry white wine such as Leopard’s Leap Chenin Blanc
2 cans of chopped peeled tomatoes
500 ml chicken stock
Bouquet garni of a few sprigs of each of the following tightly tied together: rosemary sage, thyme & bay

Gremolata:

3 Tbs finely chopped Italian parsley
zest of a lemon
1 clove garlic minced
pinch of sea salt flakes
Risotto Milanese enough for 4
Knob of butter and a splash of olive oil
½ white onion very finely chopped
1 cup Arboria rice
1 Tbs saffron threads
½ cup dry white wine
+- 800 – 900ml hot chicken stock
about 50gms butter to finish

Instructions

To make the Osso Bucco, season the meat very well on both sides with salt and pepper. I prefer to do this and not season the flour. Then lightly dust the meat in the flour shaking off any excess.
Heat a generous splash of olive oil in a non-stick pan and fry the meat on both sides until turning a light golden brown. Do this in batches and then keep aside with the juices.
In a large cast-iron pot, heat the knob of butter and add the onions, carrots and celery. Sweat this off for about 5 minutes and until it has softened and just starts taking on colour then add the garlic. Deglaze the pot with the wine and allow this to cook off and reduce – about 4 minutes. Add the tinned tomatoes, stock and the bouquet garni and season well with salt and Pepper.
Bring this to the boil on the stovetop and cook for about 10 minutes while you preheat the oven to 140C. Add the meat back into the pot and put this into the oven with the lid on and cook for a further 2 – 3 hours. I found 2 hours was adequate but I did reheat it for about 30 minutes the next day. so 2. 5 hours will be good. At this point, the meat was starting to fall off the bone but the marrow was still intact. You want to make sure that it doesn’t cook too much.
To make the risotto, heat a knob of butter and add a splash of olive oil into a heavy-based pot. Fry the onion for a few minutes until softened but do not take on any colour. In a small bowl put about ¼ cup of the hot stock and add the saffron. Allow this to infuse.
Add the rice and coat this in the fat and cook for a few minutes to get it warm and toasty. Add the wine and allow this to be completely absorbed before you slowly start adding the hot stock ladle by ladle full. Stirring constantly. Cook the risotto over medium-high heat. About halfway through add the saffron-infused stock and you will see the colour of the risotto turn to a vibrant yellow. The risotto is ready when the liquid has been absorbed but there is still quite a lot of silky sauce and the rice is slightly al dente. At this point, add the butter and allow it to emulsify into the rice. You will now have a wobbly silky sauce around the rice.
Serve immediately with the Osso Bucco and gremolata scattered on top.

Notes

Osso bucco can be made in advance and reheated before serving.

It is always best to serve risotto immediately after making it. It will thicken and dry out as it stands.

Author: Sam Linsell

This post is proudly sponsored by Leopard’s Leap Wine

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18 Comments

I’ve only made osso bucco once, and I used tomatoes. I don’t honestly think you can get Italians to agree on anything when it comes to their traditional recipes! Yours is beautiful, and of course the photos are stunning.

Oh dear gawd that looks just incredibly good!!!!

This is one of my all time favourite dishes, and it looks fantastic!

Love this and love your recipe. I make an identical version of Ossobuco alla Milanese taken from Marcella Hazan’s The Classic Italian Cookbook ( my Italian cookery bible!), the only addition being 2 strips of lemon peel to the stew as she doesn’t serve her Ossobuco with gremolata. I think gremolata is a welcome and traditional garnish, but if I’m feeling lazy I omit it and add the lemon peel!

Thanks and I think the lemon peel will be amazing too.

Thanks Rachel – Its a firm favourite of mine too and worth all the effort to make a big batch.

Thanks so much Mimi and I agree, I think there is often so much debate around the authenticity of Italian recipes

Thanks Ilse xx Your lamb dish is next on my list

I have a question! What size of cans of tomatoes? I want to make this for dinner but I don’t know if I have enough tomatoes!

Hi Janelle standard small 410gm tins

Your ossobuco is very good ( we’ve ossobuco almost every sunday in winter ) but the photos are really stunning.
They remind me of old memories.

Thank you so much David so glad you enjoyed them

Don’t use carrots. Disgusting vegetable and makes the dish sweet.

Hi Paul, I guess each to their own. I like carrots and they form the basis of soffritto a base flavour mix along with celery and onions in Italian cooking. It’s the Italian equivalent of the Fench mirepoix and very much has a place in this dish.

Hi Sam,

Great recipe! We enjoyed it a few days ago for our wedding anniversary. I switched the arborio for carnaroli, which gives a bit more creamy result.

Kind regards,
Peter

Im so glad you enjoyed this Peter, I cant wait for winter to make it again and I will try with Carnoroli which I agree is better.

Please help! I want to do this in the slow cooker on low for about 8 hours. Do I follow the exact same prep and once deglazed and the tomatoes and broth have boiled then do I add it all to the slow cooker?