Osso Buco With Saffron Risotto Fennel Red Onion And Orange Salad Food

ORANGE, RED ONION AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Zest the oranges in strips and reserve for garnish. Slice the oranges into thin rings. Place the orange slices, arugula, fennel, red onions and olives in a large bowl and toss. Toss with the olive oil and lemon juice right before serving. Season the salad with just a touch of salt and pepper. Use the reserved strips of orange zest to garnish the plate.

OSSO BUCO WITH RISOTTO MILANESE

Steps:

• For the osso buco: Sprinkle the veal with salt and pepper and heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Spread some flour on a plate, then dredge the veal in the flour on all sides and add to the oil. Brown well on both sides, 2 minutes a side. Remove to a plate.
• Add the onion, carrot and celery to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion wilts, about 4 minutes. Stir in the rosemary and thyme. Add the white wine, increase the heat and boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, broth and bay leaves. Reduce the heat so that the liquid is simmering gently, and nestle in the veal. Add water, if necessary, to come three-quarters of the way up the sides of the meat. Cover and cook until the veal is tender and a paring knife inserted in the meat slides out easily (insert the knife in several pieces to make sure all are done), 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove the veal to a plate.
• Strain the sauce into a fat separator, pressing on the solids. Wipe out the Dutch oven. Pour the defatted sauce back into the Dutch oven and reduce over high heat until thickened and the sauce just coats the back of a spoon. Cut the strings on the osso buco and return the meat to the sauce. Remove from the heat, cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• For the risotto Milanese: Combine the broth and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer and add the saffron, then turn the heat very low to just keep warm. Heat a medium Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper; cook until softened but not browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, to coat the grains in the oil, about 2 minutes. Add the white wine, bring to a simmer and cook until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add enough of the hot broth to just cover the rice. Simmer, stirring occasionally until almost totally absorbed. Continue to add broth and stir until the rice is creamy and al dente, about 18 minutes from the first addition. (The risotto will be a bit soupy at this point.)
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and Parmesan until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the gremolata: Combine the parsley, garlic and lemon zest in a small bowl.
• Spoon the risotto into 4 shallow wide bowls. Top each serving with a piece of osso buco and spoon the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the gremolata.

SLOW BRAISED HERITAGE OSSO BUCO AND RISOTTO ALLA PARMIGIANO

Steps:

• For the osso buco: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season the pork shanks liberally with salt and pepper. In an oven-safe large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the blended oil over medium-high heat to nearly smoking. Sear the shanks on all sides until deeply caramelized and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove to a plate and reserve.
• Reduce the heat to medium and carefully remove any excess oil from the pot; only about 1 tablespoon is needed. Cook the carrots, onions, celery, garlic and anchovies over medium heat until the vegetables are translucent and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rosemary, sage and thyme. Add the canned tomatoes and allow to cook until the tomatoes are a rust color (this draws the sweetness out of the tomatoes), 12 to 15 minutes.
• Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan, then reduce the heat and keep warm. Bring the wine to a boil in a small saucepan, then reduce the heat and keep warm.
• Return the shanks to the pot and nestle them at the bottom. Pour the chicken broth and wine over the shanks and vegetables. Cover with a lid and braise in the oven until fork-tender, about 4 hours.
• For the risotto: Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan, then reduce the heat and keep warm. Bring the wine to a boil in a saucepan, then reduce the heat and keep warm.
• Heat the oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a pot over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the onions and cook just until translucent; do not allow the onions to become golden. Using a wooden spoon, add the arborio rice and toast in the butter, oil and onions for a few minutes.
• Add the wine and allow the rice to soak it up and release its creamy starch into the pot. When the rice is nearly dry, add enough of the warm chicken broth to cover (about 3/4 cup) and cook, stirring, until the rice soaks it up. Repeat the process of adding broth and stirring as needed until the rice is tender and dry, 20 to 30 minutes.
• To finish the risotto, stir in a few pats of cold butter and the Parmigiano. Spoon the risotto into bowls, top with the osso buco and the braising liquid.

OSSO BUCO

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, stir together flour, salt, and black pepper. Dredge meat in seasoned flour. In a large skillet, melt butter with oil over medium heat. Brown meat. Remove meat from pan, and set aside.
• Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to drippings in pan. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomato sauce, water, basil, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf. Return meat to pan. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to simmer. Cover, and cook for 2 1/2 hours.

VEAL OSSO BUCO WITH SAFFRON RISOTTO, ENGLISH PEAS, AND PEA SHOOTS

Steps:

• Season the veal shanks with the garlic, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon thyme, and rosemary. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Take the veal shanks out of the refrigerator an hour before cooking, to bring them to room temperature. After 30 minutes, season the shanks on all sides with 3 tablespoons salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Reserve the garlic and any excess herbs.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 3 minutes. Pour in the olive oil and wait a minute or two, until the pan is very hot, almost smoking. Place the shanks in the pot, and sear until caramelized and nicely browned on all sides. Depending on the size of your pan, you will probably have to sear the meat in batches. (Do not crowd the meat or get lazy or rushed with this step. It's very important that the meat sear to a deep golden brown on all sides; this will take a good 15 to 20 minutes.) When the shanks are nicely browned, transfer them to a braising pan. They should sit flat, bones standing up, in one layer.
• Turn the heat down to medium, and add the onion, carrot, celery, sage sprigs, and reserved garlic and herbs. Stir with a wooden spoon to scrape up all the crusty bits in the pan. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, until the vegetables just begin to caramelize. Stir in the tomatoes and cook a few more minutes. Add the vermouth, turn the heat to high, and reduce the liquid by half.
• Add the stock and bring to a boil. Pour the liquid over the shanks, scraping any of the vegetables that fall on the meat back into the liquid. The stock mixture should almost cover the shanks (if not, add a little more stock or water). Tuck the parsley sprigs in the broth around the shanks. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and a tight-fitting lid if you have one. Braise in the oven about 3 hours.
• To check the meat for doneness, carefully remove the lid and foil (watch out for the hot steam), and pierce one of the shanks with a paring knife. When the meat is done, it will yield easily. Taste a piece if you are not sure.
• Turn the oven up to 400°F.
• Carefully transfer the veal shanks to a baking sheet and return them to the oven to brown 10 to 15 minutes.
• Strain the broth into a saucepan, pressing down on the vegetables with a ladle to extract all the juices. Skim the fat from the braising juices. If necessary, reduce the broth over medium-high heat about 5 minutes, to thicken slightly. Taste for seasoning.
• Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the butter, and when it foams, add the peas. Turn the heat down to low, and sauté the peas gently about 3 minutes, shaking the pan a few times. Add the shallots, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Stir to combine, and cook a few minutes, until the shallots are soft and translucent.
• Add 1/2 cup water and turn the heat up to medium. Cook a minute or so, until the peas are just tender. Turn off the heat and toss in the pea shoots.
• Arrange the veal shanks on a large warm platter. Ladle lots of the braising juices over the meat. Spoon the sauté of peas and pea shoots on top. Serve a bowl of saffron risotto and the remaining braising juices on the side.
• Saffron Risotto
• Toast the saffron threads in a small pan over medium heat, just until they dry and become brittle. Pound the saffron in a mortar to a fine powder. Add half the butter, and use a rubber spatula to incorporate it.
• Bring the chicken stock and 3 1/2 cups water to a boil over high heat. Turn off the heat.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Swirl in the saffron butter, and when it foams, add the onion, thyme, chile, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a few grindings of black pepper. Sauté about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion is translucent. Stir in the rice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring continuously, until the rice just begins to toast and the grains of rice have a white dot at their center.
• Pour in the white wine, and once it has evaporated, quickly add 1 cup of the hot stock and stir continuously. When the stock is completely absorbed, begin adding the liquid in 1 cup batches, stirring all the time, with a wooden spoon, back and forth in a rhythmic motion. Wait for each batch of liquid to be absorbed before adding the next. The rice should be bubbling and quickly absorbing the liquid. After about 15 minutes, taste the rice for tenderness. It should be slightly but not too al dente. The risotto may need more liquid and more time, so keep cooking until it's done. It should be neither soupy nor dry; each grain of rice should be coated in a flavorful starchy "sauce."
• When the rice is almost done, turn off the heat. Let the risotto "rest" for a minute or two, then quickly stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the parsley (and Parmigiano-Reggiano if you are using it). Taste for seasoning. The rice will keep absorbing liquid, so add a little more stock if it seems dry. Spoon the risotto into a serving bowl.
• Note
• You can braise the veal shanks a day or two ahead of time; just remember they need to marinate a full day beforehand. Bring the cooked meat to room temperature and then gently reheat it, covered, in the broth. Start the risotto after you take the veal out of the oven the first time (or after you have reheated it) and strain the braising juices. After the risotto has been cooking about 10 minutes, put the shanks in the oven to brown. Recruit a friend to help you by preparing the sauté of peas and pea shoots while you finish the risotto.