A Healthy and Delicious Osso Buco Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 veal shanks, about 1 pound each
• 1/2 cup white or whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• Gremolata (optional)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Zest of 1 lemon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Pat the veal shanks dry and season with salt and pepper.
3. Dredge the shanks lightly in the flour, shaking off the excess.
4. In a large Dutch oven or ovenproof pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
5. Add the veal shanks and brown on all sides, about 8-10 minutes total. Transfer the shanks to a plate and set aside.
6. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
7. Add the wine to the pot and deglaze, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
8. Add the beef broth, diced tomatoes, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
9. Return the veal shanks to the pot, cover, and bake in the oven for 2-2 1/2 hours, until the meat is tender and falls off the bone.
10. In a small bowl, combine the chopped parsley, minced garlic, and lemon zest (optional gremolata).
11. Serve the osso buco hot, topped with the gremolata and fresh parsley.

Introduction:

If you’re looking for a hearty and healthy meal, osso buco is a great option. This Italian dish is typically made with veal shanks, but you can also use beef or pork. The shanks are slow-cooked in a flavorful tomato-based sauce until tender and falling off the bone.

To make this dish healthier, we use whole wheat flour instead of white and substitute some of the oil with beef broth. The result is just as delicious, but with fewer calories and less saturated fat. This recipe also includes a gremolata, which is a mixture of minced garlic, chopped parsley, and lemon zest. It adds a bright and fresh flavor to the dish.

Cooking the osso buco requires some patience since it takes a few hours in the oven, but the result is worth it. Plus, you can make a large batch and freeze the leftovers for an even easier meal in the future.

One cool thing to note is that osso buco is traditionally served with a side of risotto or polenta, which helps absorb the flavorful sauce. You can also serve it with a simple side salad or roasted vegetables.