Keyword crowd pleaser, easy, family meals, low and slow
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 6 hourshours
Total Time 6 hourshours10 minutesminutes
Servings 8people
Cost £
Ingredients
For the beans
3 x 400gcannellini beans
1onion, peeled and cut in half
2 - 3sprigs of rosemary
2sprigs of sage
4garlic cloves
1tspcumin seeds
120mlolive oil
Braised Oxtail
800goxtail
100mlolive oil
1onion, finely chopped
1large carrot, chopped 1cm pieces
3celery stalks, chopped
4garlic cloves, finely chopped
2sprigs of thyme
2star anise
2bay leaves
2cinnamon sticks
120gtomato paste
100mlred wine
1kgtomato passata (or use tinned tomatoes)
2tbspdate syrup (or honey)
Instructions
Drain the liquid from the cans and give a quick rinse. Then add to a pan with the onion, rosemary, sage, garlic and cumin and add water. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer and leave for approx 30mins (you don't want the beans to break up).Drain the beans in a colander and leave to one sid.e
For the braised oxtail
Season the oxtail liberally with salt and pepper.In a cast iron or casserole dish, on the stove on a medium heat, add the olive oil and (in batches if necessary), seal the meat so it's brown on all sides.Remove the meat onto a wire rack once browned and set aside.
In the same pan, over medium heat, add the onions, carrots, celery and cook until softened and translucent.Add the garlic, thyme, bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise and season with salt and pepper. Cook for a few minutes.Next, stir in the tomato paste and fry for approx 5mins before pouring in the red wine and stirring to deglaze the pan.Now, add in the passata, date syrup and gently place the oxtail back in before covering with water.Get to a simmer, then leave on your lowest setting, covered for 3 - 4hrs.You want the sauce to reduce and darken and the oxtail to be tender and almost falling apart.NB: you can add more water throughout the cooking as the oxtail should be submerged.
Now, add the beans back into the dish and place in the oven (uncovered) for another 1 - 1.5hrs on 160C/140C fan.NB: instead of using your oven and to give a smoky taste, you can use your BBQ smoker to cook the oxtail and beans for another 2hrs on 120C.OR you could add some paprika to your dish in the oven