Osso Buco Recipe with Orange Gremolata
This Osso Buco Recipe, Italian for bone with a hole, is made with veal shanks braised with vegetables and wine until they fall off the bone.
This Italian Braised Veal originated in Milan and is slow-cooked until infused with flavor and perfectly tender and delicious!
Veal Osso Buco
Years and years ago, I helped organize a neighborhood progressive dinner party. We went with an Italian theme and selected Osso Buco as our entree. Until the night of our party, though, I’d never tasted this dish made with veal shanks. Dorie instructed us to slow cook this bone-in cut of veal in an orange tomato sauce till the meat was fall off the bone tender.
Bill has always been a fan of veal, but this was a new preparation for him, too. And he fell hard. So I didn’t bat an eye when I purchased this pricey cut of meat from the butcher shop this week, knowing it would get rave reviews. Plus, it was a Dorie Greenspan recipe. I was certain of a delicious outcome when making this osso buco a L’arman.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Osso Buco?
The Italian translation is “bone with a hole,” referring to the pieces of veal shank of which it’s made. An Italian comfort food, the shanks are slowly braised in a wine, herb, and tomato sauce until perfectly tender. This version has a French twist with thyme, basil, and herbes de Provence. It’s often topped with a gremolata (see more below).
What is Gremolata?
Gremolata is a minced herb garnish typically served with osso buco. Usually made with parsley, lemon zest, and garlic, Dorie tweaks her recipe to mimic the orange and basil in her osso buco.
Dust your finished dish with orange gremolata right before serving. This extra step makes for a restaurant-worthy osso buco recipe!
What Makes Osso Buco so Extraordinary?
First, the bone marrow provides amazing flavor that transforms ordinary ingredients into something fabulous! Plus, the gremolata gives a bright refreshing boost of flavor.
I’d add a slosh of red wine to her recipe to up the flavor complexity. If you ever see veal shanks at your market, consider making this scrumptious, comforting braised veal recipe. It got the picky husband’s endorsement!
Slow-Cooked Veal Shanks
Even I was drawn in by the intoxicating aroma of this veal simmering away in the oven bathed in a delicious braising sauce. It’s usually just cookies that get to me! And, as I predicted, the hubby raved about his dinner. Though he did think the orange zest was overkill. Sheesh. Score one for Dorie!!!
Recipe Notes:
I’d add a slosh of red wine (a half-cup would be a reasonable amount) to her recipe to up the flavor complexity. Like salt, wine is a flavor enhancer and will add a delicious undertone to the dish.
If you ever see veal shanks at your market, consider making this scrumptious, comforting braised veal recipe. It got the picky husband’s endorsement!
More Favorite Slow Cooked Dinners:
- Beef Stew with Red Wine
- Slow Cooker Brisket
- Pork Carnitas Recipe
- Beef Barbacoa Recipe
- More of my Best Main Course Recipes
Osso Buco à L'arman
A French twist on the classic Italian braised veal shanks
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons, divided
- 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (Arman used 2 teaspoons dried)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (Arman used 2 teaspoons dried)
- 2 teaspoons herbes de Provence
- 1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes in tomato puree
- 5 medium tomatoes, sliced
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes, dissolved in ¼ cup boiling water
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 veal shanks, cut into 2- to 3-inch lengths
- 4 large carrots, trimmed, peeled, and thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and pour in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onions, garlic, and herbs and cook, stirring to soften.
- Using scissors, reach into the can of tomatoes and snip the tomatoes into pieces. Add the fresh and canned tomatoes, liquid included, the bouillon.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, season with salt and pepper, then lower the temperature and let it simmer gently while you brown the veal.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Pat the veal dry and season lightly with pepper. Brown the veal lightly on both sides. Remove from the pan and place it into the simmering sauce. Add some of the pan drippings to the sauce, too, if desired.
- Place the carrots over the veal. Cut a circle of parchment paper just large enough to fit inside the Dutch oven and lay the paper on top of the osso buco.
- Simmer for 5 minutes more, then place the lid on the pot set in the oven.
- Cook the osso buco undisturbed for 2 hours, at which point the meat should be fork-tender.
- Carefully remove the lid and the parchment paper and, with a large spoon, skim any excess fat from the top before serving.
- Sprinkle with gremolata to serve
Notes
Adapted from Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan.
Add 1/2 cup red wine to the sauce to enhance the flavor even more!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 veal shankAmount Per Serving: Calories: 501Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 241mgSodium: 558mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 8gSugar: 16gProtein: 67g
Orange-Basil Gremolata for Osso Buco
Topping for the Italian classic Osso Bucco from Dorie Greenspan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup orange zest, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in small bowl about an hour before serving. Cover with plastic to keep mixture moist.
- Sprinkle over plated osso buco before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
Skinny Tip
I’m offering a series of Skinny Tips. How I keep slim is one of my most frequent inquiries. I’ll feature more tips on some of my upcoming blog posts. Click on the #SkinnyTip tag at the end of this post to see all my previous tips.
Tip #49: Portion out healthy snacks for the week and have them close at hand to grab when you get a hunger pang. Make sure to include some protein like nuts or cheese to help keep you full longer.
40 Comments on “Osso Buco Recipe with Orange Gremolata”
We got the thumbs up here too!
Liz, I love how you (and Dorie) push the envelope for Bill. Your French Fridays do not disappoint, and the lovely Osso Buco is photographic proof. I enjoyed the disserte on gremolata, too. Happy Halloween to you & yours!
I adore the basil-orange touch! That looks RIDICULOUSLY amazing – yum!
This was a big hit in my house too! Yours looks wonderfully mouthwatering! Glad your picky eater enjoyed it! Happy Friday, Lizzy!
I really liked the gremolata, it added such great flavor and was pretty to boot. So happy to hear that you had a satisfied taste tester at home. It’s always more fun when we can share these recipes.
I love osso buco and your gremolata sounds wonderful!
Mmm looks so good and comforting during these cold, cold days 🙂
Happy Halloween Lizzy! And I hope you had a fantabulous birthday.
xo
I have never made this dish but will order it if it is on the menu. I just want a bowl of the gremolata please.
Just gorgeous, Liz!
I had so much fun working with you to pull together last week’s post. It seems like everyon thoroughly enjoyed it! I hope you spend all weekend celebrating your birthday in style! xoxo
Looks great and I’m realizing I totally forgot to even make the gremolata! Ah, well. I love the bone with a hole nickname for the shanks! Great tip for healthy snacks, by the way: having them pre-portioned means you can fight the unhealthy snack monster a bit easier! Happy Halloween!
Another great #Skinny Tip. I allllllmost like reading them as well as reading about your gorgeous food. I also didn’t have Osso Bucco until I was an adult. What an eating adventure first, to have veal (those poor calves) and secondly, to have “bone with a hole”. You’re right about that bone thing. I liked it as well as Bill although it is quite pricey to order at a restaurant. I am glad to now know how to successfully make it at home. Lovely photos, as always. Also like that you added more slow-cooked food choices. Happy Winter, Liz.
Wow – Bill endorsed. I am impressed 🙂
I have never made osso-buco…wow..yours looks so tender and perfect!
Liz!!! I’ve always wanted to make osso-buco!! Slow cooked in an orange tomato sauce till the meat was fall off the bone tender. . . oh my gawd, sounds so good!!! and I love that Bill didn’t care about purchasing the expensive cut of meat. . Paul is the same way when it comes to meat! I can buy anything! 😛 Happy Halloween, Liz!!! 🙂
damn delcious and comforting dish!!!!
My goodness – if your Picky Eater gave it his approval, then I must try it for mine! It looks lovely!
I just love osso buco. Especially with gremolata. Love the brightness it brings to a recipe.
I am impressed (but not surprised actually) that Bill loved this – looks great Liz!
I love Osso Buco! It’s one of my all-time favorites! Nice recipe…thank you!
Sounds like a hearty meal Liz! Happy Halloween-have fun:@)