Osso Bucco is one of those dishes that I could never get excited about.  Many Osso Bucco recipes contain
a can of tomatoes making the sauce more of a “tomato” sauce. And as much as I love tomato pasta sauces, it didn’t appeal to me as a sauce for Osso Bucco.

Years ago I watched one of Lidia Bastianich’s TV Series and in one of the episodes she prepare her Roasted Whole Veal Shank.  This recipe was from her cookbook  – Lidia’s Italian Table.  I knew immediately that I would love this recipe and I was right.  I’ve made it often using the whole shank, but for just two, I adapt the recipe to make Osso Bucco.  The only tomato in the recipe is a squirt or two of tomato paste.

Osso Bucco

Based on Roasted Veal Shanks from Lidia’s Italian Table

Veal shank cut into pieces 1 1/2 inches thick.
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large carrot, chopped
1 small onion, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
6 fresh sage leaves
1 cup dry white wine
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
(I keep a tube of tomato paste in the fridge
Salt/Pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F

Heat olive oil in oven proof pan. Brown veal shanks. Remove from pan and add chopped carrot and onions. Saute until tender. Add garlic and saute for another minute. Add rosemary and sage, one cup of white wine, chicken broth and a squirt of tomato paste. Cover and put in the oven for approximately 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender. Check occasionally to make sure there is sufficient liquid.

Serve over Polenta or Risotto and sprinkle with Gremolata

Gremolata

3 or 4 tablespoons of chopped parsley
1 clove of minced garlic
Zest of one lemon