Roman Braised Oxtail Food

BRAISED OXTAIL

Steps:

• Toss the ingredients together in a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Take oxtails out of marinade and reserve onion mixture. In a heavy-bottom braiser over medium-high heat, brown both sides of oxtail in batches in olive oil, drain excess oil leaving just enough to saute onion mixture and thyme. After the onions and thyme are sauteed return oxtails to braiser and add enough water to cover 1/4 of the oxtails. Allow the liquid to come to a simmer. Put cloves and allspice into a sachet or tie in a cheesecloth, and submerge in liquid. Season with salt, cover, and put into a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Then add tomatoes, red and Scotch Bonnet peppers. Stir well and return pot to the oven for half an hour or until oxtails are tender. Check to see if additional water is needed during braising process. Seasoning with more salt is recommended when finished.

ROMAN BRAISED OXTAIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Set a roasting pan over medium heat. Peel and dice the carrot, onion, and half the celery (including leaves). Add oil to the roasting pan, followed by the vegetables and the pancetta. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are soft and pancetta begins to crisp up, 15 minutes.
• Season oxtail with salt and pepper on both sides. Nestle into the roasting pan alongside the vegetables in an even layer to brown. Brown 5 minutes per side, then continue cooking another 5 minutes.
• Remove oxtails to a platter. Add tomato paste to the roasting pan, and stir to deglaze, 1-2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, add wine, and stir, making sure to scrape up all of the brown bits from the bottom, 1-2 minutes. Add tomato purée, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Place oxtails back in the pan in a single layer. Braise in the oven, uncovered, 1½ hours. (Oxtails will be braised for a total of 2 hours or more.)
• After 1½ hours, remove oxtails from oven. Slice remaining celery stalks (including leaves) into 3-inch-by-¼-inch strips. Add celery and marjoram. Turn oxtails over. Place back in the oven to braise for 30 minutes more.
• Oxtails are done when the meat is fork tender. To serve, place oxtails on a large platter with the sauce and the celery. Serve immediately.

BRAISED OXTAILS "ANTON"

Steps:

• Heat canola oil over medium-high in a large saute pot. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent. While they are cooking, season the flour with salt and pepper and coat the oxtails, allowing any excess flour to fall away. Sear the oxtails on both sides in the pot with the onions and garlic, then remove them to a utility platter. De-glaze the pan with the red wine. Whisk in demi-glace and tomato paste and add bay leaf, parsley and thyme. Lower heat and return oxtails to pot. Cover and let simmer until meat is tender (it should easily fall away from bone), about 3 hours. Remove oxtails to a platter, cover, and let rest in a warm place. Strain braising liquid into another pot to make it into a sauce. Spoon off any excess fat that may be on the surface. Increase heat, allowing the braising liquid to reduce by one-half to two thirds.
• Combine the Gremolata ingredients and set aside.
• While the sauce is reducing, prepare the toasted French bread. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the olive oil on the bread and sprinkle with garlic powder. Lightly toast in the oven.
• Remove the reduced sauce from the heat and whisk in the butter. Spoon sauce over oxtails and top with a small amount of gremolata. Serve with toasted French garlic bread.

OXTAILS, ROMAN STYLE

Steps:

• Season oxtails with salt and pepper.
• Heat a 6 quart stove top covered casserole and add the oil and garlic.
• Saute for just a moment and add one third of the meat.
• Brown well on both sides and remove.
• Brown next third and then last third.
• Drain fat from the pot and return all the meat, along with all the other ingredients.
• Cover and simmer until very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• You may need to add a bit of water now and then if the mixture dries out.
• I add a can of chopped tomatoes at the end.