Ossobuco di Chianina al Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva recipe

Recipes for ossobuco vary wildly. Although the “Ossobuco alla Milanese” from Lombardy may be one of the most famous and well known Italian secondo piatto.

My favorite recipe is: Ossobuco di Chianina al Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva!

You can pair ossobuco with other dishes. I am talking about delicious saffron risotto such as: Risotto alla Milanese.

As a side dish you may choose to eat ossobuco with polenta or with mashed potatoes.

The Italian ossobuco is a beef shank from the cow’s leg. It is a cut of meat butchered from a cow’s or bull leg.

Much is written on which part is best. It’s been said that veal shanks from the hind legs are the best! Meat from those parts is more voluminous and fleshy.

Ossobuco literally translates to “bone with a hole” with meat. You can prepare ossobuco from veal but also with other kinds of meat such as pork.

However, the finest meat for cooking, in Tuscany, is Chianina breed. It is high valued meat with a more intense taste.

For this recipe I bought the ossobuco di Chianina at the Fierli farm in Foiano della Chiana. Fierli is an organic farm. The animals have a long life and they are treated well.

Recipe

The Ossobuco di Chianina al Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva is a true Tuscan recipe. Many people don’t prepare it at home. Some cuts of veal from the store may be chewy.

Tip for buy-in, first look for shanks that are > 2 inches. If they’re too thin, they’ll braise too fast.

My style Ossobuco di Chianina al Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva needs the following ingredients:

Recipe for 1 person

• 1 ossobuco di Chianina
• flour
• red wine “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG” – Il Convento
• 2 cloves
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 onion (soffritto)
• 1 celery (soffritto)
• 1 carrot (soffritto)
• 1 bay lief
• pepper
• salt
• olive oil

When braising the ossobuco you may as well use meat broth or any other liquid (water). I prefer to use only wine. I do not mix the wine with other liquids. That would be a no-go, especially when it’s a high quality wine.

Also mixing tomatoes or tomato paste with red wine is not what I recommend. But that’s my personal opinion.

What else do you need

Stew pot.

How to cook

Chop the onions, carrots and celery.

Peel the garlic.

Heat the pot until the olive oil is well heated. Instead of olive oil you may also use butter.

First stir-fry the garlic. When the garlic begins to colour reduce heat. Add the soffritto and cook the vegetables until they begin to soften and caramelize.

Meanwhile cover the Ossobuco with the flour.

When the soffritto has a golden wheat color, remove it or move it to a side. It depends on the size of the stew pot. Sear the ossobuco on both sides until nicely browned. Sprinkle the ossobuco with salt and pepper.

Pour the red wine over the ossobuco and bring it to boil to evaporate the alcohol. Reduce the heat and add the bay leave and cloves.

Cover the pot and check occasionally. When the wine is absorbed just add a little extra. The meat should be left at a low temperature for about 2-3 hours.

When the meat is tender it will fall off the bone. The marrow in the hole of the bone is the best part of the ossobuco. It is a real delicacy and super yummy!

Serve the ossobuco on a plate and the warm wine sauce on top of it.

What to serve with ossobuco

Due to its massive taste ossobuco goes well with a creamy risotto, mashed potatoes or polenta.

Wine

If you’re cooking beef or stew Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (sangiovese) is your friend. It affects the taste of the dish. The ripe flavors in this wine give complexity to the sauce and the meat. Chianina is a traditional and genuine meat with an intense and pure taste.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a full bodied wine. It is best when paired with the right food. In particular Chianina beef.

Nothing beats the magic of a brilliant wine and food pairing.

Buon appetito!

Video

Watch this video recipe to see how to cook Ossobuco di Chianina al Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva.