Osso buco is a traditional Italian dish made with veal shanks braised in a flavorful sauce. The name “osso buco” translates to “bone with a hole,” referring to the marrow-filled bone in the shank. While veal is the classic choice for osso buco, pork shanks can also be used to create a delicious and hearty dish.
Key Ingredients in Pork Osso Buco
The key ingredients in pork osso buco include:
- Pork shanks: Pork shanks are the main ingredient in this dish. They are typically cut into thick slices, about 2-3 inches thick.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is used to brown the pork shanks and add flavor to the sauce.
- Butter: Butter is also used to brown the pork shanks and add richness to the sauce.
- Onion: Onion is diced and added to the pot along with the pork shanks. It helps to create a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Celery: Celery is also diced and added to the pot. It adds sweetness and crunch to the sauce.
- Carrot: Carrot is diced and added to the pot. It adds sweetness and color to the sauce.
- Tomato paste: Tomato paste is added to the pot to thicken the sauce and add a rich, savory flavor.
- White wine: White wine is added to the pot to deglaze the pan and add acidity to the sauce.
- Chicken broth: Chicken broth is added to the pot to create a flavorful liquid for the pork shanks to braise in.
- Herbs: Herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf are added to the pot to add flavor to the sauce.
- Salt and pepper: Salt and pepper are added to taste.
How to Make Pork Osso Buco
To make pork osso buco, follow these steps:
- Season the pork shanks with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Brown the pork shanks on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Remove the pork shanks from the pot and set aside.
- Add the onion, celery, and carrot to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste to the pot and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add the white wine to the pot and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, herbs, salt, and pepper to the pot.
- Return the pork shanks to the pot and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 3-4 hours, or until the pork shanks are fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Serve the pork osso buco over polenta, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Tips for Making the Best Pork Osso Buco
Here are a few tips for making the best pork osso buco:
- Use high-quality pork shanks. The quality of the pork shanks will greatly affect the flavor of the dish. Look for shanks that are meaty and have a good amount of marbling.
- Brown the pork shanks well. Browning the pork shanks adds flavor and color to the dish. Be sure to brown them on all sides.
- Use a good quality white wine. The white wine used in the sauce should be a dry wine with a good acidity. This will help to balance out the richness of the dish.
- Simmer the pork shanks for a long time. The pork shanks need to be simmered for a long time in order to become fall-off-the-bone tender. Be patient and let the dish simmer for at least 3 hours.
- Serve the pork osso buco over a bed of polenta, pasta, or mashed potatoes. This will help to soak up the delicious sauce.
Pork Osso Buco – Braised Pork Shanks Recipe
FAQ
What is pork osso bucco made from?
One of the most satisfying dishes to eat is Osso Buco. It is traditionally made with veal shanks but this version with pork is equally delicious and as a bonus, pork is inexpensive. The shanks contain a large bone in the middle of the meat, adding lots of flavor to this dish.
What type of meat is osso bucco?
Osso Bucco is from a beef shank which is a cross-cut of meat that comes from the lower leg of the cow. Beef Osso Busso also contains a bone with marrow in the center. While you can make Osso Bucco with either veal or beef, it is more common to use beef because it is widely available and less expensive than veal.
What does osso bucco taste like?
Osso Bucco is traditionally made with veal but can be easily substituted with beef shanks. The veal has quite a delicate and sweeter flavor compared to the stronger meaty flavor of beef. What does Osso Bucco taste like? It has a savory and rich meaty taste from the broth and the veal or beef shank.
Why is it called osso buco?
Ossobuco or osso buco is Italian for ‘bone with a hole’ (osso: ‘bone’, buco: ‘hole’), a reference to the marrow hole at the centre of the cross-cut veal shank. In the Milanese variant of the Lombard language, this dish’s name is òss bus.