oxtail

[cecil39]

i'v been given a big bag of oxtail by a well meaning freind who thinks i love cooking ( i don't, i just like the results ) what can i do with it? it looks nice and meaty but i've never had it to cook before and have'nt a clue, easy recipes please.

[tiggerblue10]

Fry it in some oil first then stew it with sweated onions, celery, carrots, herbs and beef stock for a couple of hours.

[annadomino]

Didnt Heston do a steak & kidney pie with oxtail last night? It involved long cooking, then flaking/picking off the meat. Seemingly it wnt down a treat.

[boxtops]

I'd do what tiggs suggests - lovely.

[tiggerblue10]

Oh and stick a few dumplings in as well. Yummy!

[humbersloop]

I'm with Tigger too, though I don't brown it, just do it in the slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours. It's usually worth letting it go cold, skimming off the fat - there can be a lot -and then warming it up with some dumplings sitting on top.

Or you could try a very good oxtail soup:

http://www.guardian.c...-british-soup-recipes

[tamborine]

Wish I had some - share ? Put oxtail chunks into casserole dish & dry fry on high heat (no oil or fat) till they're browned on both sides; add few small new potatos/peas/carrots, add packet vegetable soup & cover all with water. Bring to boil, fix on lid & put into low heat oven for 2+hours. Prod meat to check if tender, season & serve. n.b. mash some potato to thicken.

[Clanad]

This is especially good this time of year...
2 lbs oxtails
2 1/2 quarts water
6 peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 stalks celery & leaves , roughly chopped
1 medium onion , roughly chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 medium potatoes , cut into cubes (we use more)
3 carrots or 1/2 lb baby carrot
1 cup quick-cooking barley
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
Directions:
1. Saute celery and onions till tender.
2. In slow cooker, add water, oxtail, potatoes, carrots, peppercorns, bay leaves, celery, onion, and salt. If using regular barley, add at this time too.
3. Cover and simmer for 8- 10 hours, until meat is tender, potatoes and carrots are cooked, and barley is tender.
4. When meat is tender, take meat off bones and return to broth.
5. Bring broth to boil and add quick-cooking barley and tomatoes.
6. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until barley is tender.

This recipe willmake nearly 3 quarts and it freezes well...

[cecil39]

thanks so much, lovely ideas, i will do stew tonight and make soup to freeze tomorrow, great.

[humbersloop]

How did the oxtail go?
And why did I forget to mention the pearl barley? My mother would kill me...

[cecil39]

the oxtail was great, and i did put pearl barley in, because i had some that needed using up, lucky chance that, i would even consider buying oxtail now that iv'e had some, just the job for winter grub. thanks for all your ideas.