🍖 Braised Oxtail Recipe
🍽 Serves: 4–6
⏱ Total Time: 3.5 to 4 hours
(Prep: 30 min | Cook: 3–3.5 hrs)
🛒 Ingredients:
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3–4 lbs oxtail, cut into pieces
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Salt & black pepper, to taste
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2–3 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
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1 large onion, chopped
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2–3 cloves garlic, minced
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2 medium carrots, sliced
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2 ribs celery, chopped
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1 tbsp tomato paste
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1 cup red wine (or beef broth)
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3 cups beef broth
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2 sprigs thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
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1 bay leaf
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1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
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1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
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Optional: 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
👨🍳 Instructions:
1. Season & sear the oxtail:
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Pat oxtail dry with paper towels.
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Season generously with salt and pepper.
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Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat.
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Sear oxtail in batches until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté aromatics:
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In the same pot, reduce heat to medium.
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Add onion, carrot, and celery. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened.
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Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Deglaze & build braising liquid:
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Pour in red wine to deglaze, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
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Add beef broth, Worcestershire, thyme, bay leaf, smoked paprika, and optional tomatoes.
4. Return oxtail to pot:
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Nestle the oxtail pieces into the liquid.
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Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
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Cover and cook for 3 to 3.5 hours, or until oxtail is tender and falling off the bone.
🔄 Alternatively, you can braise in a 325°F (165°C) oven.
5. Finish & serve:
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Skim excess fat off the top.
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Optional: Remove oxtail and reduce sauce for a thicker gravy.
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Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. Serve over:
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Mashed potatoes, buttered rice, polenta, or with crusty bread.
✅ Tips & Variations:
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Make ahead: Even better the next day — refrigerate, then skim hardened fat and reheat.
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Add potatoes, turnips, or beans in the last hour of cooking for a one-pot meal.
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Don’t skip the sear — it builds flavor in the final dish.
Would you like a Jamaican-style oxtail version (with browning, allspice, and butter beans), a slow cooker adaptation, or a red wine-free version?
