In light of the Pork Shanks cut by Willy's Butcher Shop we'd thought we'd share a great Osso Buco Recipe that is just delicious.

Now credit where credit is due, we found and used this recipe from the Reluctant Gourmet and while its not for the faint of heart its absolutely worth the work and prep. It just knocked our socks off so please visit http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/ for more ideas.

Pork Osso Buco Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1-tablespoon olive oil

4 pork shanks

Salt & Pepper

1 yellow onion, chopped

½ cup carrots, chopped

½ cup celery, chopped

2 teaspoons garlic

3 anchovy fillets or 3 teaspoons anchovy paste (optional)

1 cup dry white wine

1-cup chicken stock (have some on reserve in case you need a little more)

One 14 oz can of diced tomatoes

Bouquet Garni (peel of 1 lemon, ¼ cup parsley sprigs, 2 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 bay leaf)

How To Prepare At Home

Preheat your oven to 325º F. While the oven is heating up, prep your ingredients and then season the shanks with a little salt and pepper. 

Once seasoned, heat the oil and brown the shanks in a large, ovenproof casserole pan or roasting pan. You can always brown them in a smaller fry pan, two at a time, and then transfer them to a bigger pan. 

When the shanks are browned, remove them and add the vegetables to the pan. Sauté the vegetables for just a few minutes until they start to brown a little. They will continue to cook with the meat while braising. If the vegetables appear dry, add a touch more olive oil. You can add the anchovy at this point if you are using it. (We didn't, 'cause I hate anchovies)

Add the wine to deglaze the pan of all the brown bits of meat and vegetables that might be stuck to the bottom of the pan. Let the wine cook down until most of it is cooked off. Add the chicken stock and diced tomato (with juice) and bring to a boil. 

As soon as you come to a boil, turn off the heat, add the pork shanks and Bouquet Garni, cover with a tight fitting lid and transfer to the oven. Let this cook for about 2 hours. When the meat is tender and falling off the bone, it's done. 

To Make the Tastiest Sauce Ever

 

When the meat is done, carefully remove the shanks from the pot trying not to let all the meat fall off the bone. Also remove and discard the Bouquet Garni. Using a hand blender if you have one, puree the sauce until smooth. If you don't have one, use your regular blender or food processor. You can also use a food mill too if you have one. 

Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.  

Serve It

 

I like to serve this dish with mashed potatoes. I use a large soup bowl that's more like a deep plate. Start with the potatoes in the center of the bowl, cover the potatoes with sauce, and then top with a pork shank. There will be plenty of sauce so bring some to the table in a gravy boat in case your family or friends want some extra sauce. They will. 

In the photo above, you see I served the pork osso buco with pasta. Two reasons; I didn't have potatoes on hand and even if I did, my kids really wanted pasta that night. Doesn't matter. The kids loved the meat and the sauce on the pasta was incredible. 

This is an inexpensive, as good as it gets meal for this time of year. I highly recommend you give it a try.

We didn't take a picture but this ones is just so great....

Good luck and let Elizabeth know If you have any questions. John just eats and won't be much help unless you invite him for dinner.......!

John & Elizabeth

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