Have you ever wondered, Where Does Osso Bucco Meat Come From? have a look at the article. Being a favourite and much-preferred cut of meat for a lot of people across the world- especially in the European region, Osso Bucco is meat that is taken from the shin area of calves- it is traditionally braised slowly with wine and vegetables and served alongside risotto (a slow-cooked Italian rice dish) or polenta (cornmeal). What makes this cut of meat stand out, is the fact that this is served on the bone; And not to be forgotten is the well-cooked softened bone marrow- popularly considered very tasty and to be of amazing texture to eat. Known to have roots in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Osso Bucco is ingrained deeply in Italian culture.
Osso Bucco- The Origins
Italy is known to give the world some of the most iconic specialities- pizza, pasta, some of the choicest cold cuts like prosciutto- so of course, it comes as no surprise that Osso Bucco comes from there too! Osso Bucco more or less started as the Italian version of comfort food, when it originated in the 18th CE near Milan, in a little administrative region named Lombardy. What started as a hearty plate to warm up the dining table in winters, eventually has gone on to become an Italian staple.
It is no secret that while Italians love their pasta and pizzas, the Northern Italian region dwellers tend to gravitate towards meat as the star of their meals- and so, it does make sense that Osso Bucco comes from there. While across the world, the meat is cut from beef, traditional Osso Bucco meat is sourced from calves, and is a lot more expensive than the former.
Osso Bucco translates to ‘bone hole’ in English- which is the most appropriate name for it, because of the importance that the marrow in the bone holds. It is pretty much the MVP for dishes made with this cut of beef- the richness that it adds to any plate of food is unparalleled! The slow cooking process softens the bone and the sauce that it cooks in enhances the flavour in the bone marrow to a whole new level! The rustic and homey flavours that Northern Italy is known for shines very brightly in dishes made with Osso Bucco.
The Basic Cooking Technique
As it is already mentioned- Osso Bucco is veal shanks that are cut into thick steaks and slow-cooked in a rich sauce made out of garlic, onions and bay leaf. Veal is the meat that it is originally and traditionally made with and it is so because veal absorbs more of the flavour of the sauce than the beef does- however, it is common to see Osso Bucco dishes made with beef cuts too. The sauce for Osso Bucco doesn’t quite have the same colour as the other Italian meat dishes, mostly because it is made with white wine and not the red one.
Like every other Italian meat-based dish, the cooking process for Osso Bucco involves browning the meat and then making a sauce to serve as the base for the dish. The browned meat is then slow-cooked for about 2 hours in the sauce, to a point where the meat oh-so-easily falls apart from the bone, soft and ready to eat. This is then served with risotto- an amazing soft rice dish- to go with it. It is also served with polenta in a few places- polenta is boiled corn that is cooked till it softens into a porridge.
Osso Bucco- Modern Variations
Just as with every other dish that has stood the test of time and made itself a mainstay for many generations, Osso Bucco also has found its home in the cookbooks of modern chefs. There are many variants of this priceless and adored cut of meat today which leave your mouth watering!The most common modern variant contains tomatoes, which the original dish did not.
Some do not have the patience for the traditional slow-cooked dish but still want to eat it- and it is this part of the crowd that created the pressure cooker version of the dish. Some also slow cook the meat partly and then turn it into a pie- much like a shepherd’s pie. This pie is rich in flavour, perfectly complemented by the crisp and well-cooked pie crust. Other variations include a soup, a smoked Osso Bucco steak or just seared with mushrooms.
Osso Bucco- The Final Verdict
While the consensus about Osso Bucco dishes is positive, it is up to the eater to be the final judge. So, if you were to ever be curious enough to try out this beautiful heritage dish, do try to get your hands on a plate that stays true to the tradition with which it is made, before trying out the variations. Have fun eating it, dear reader!
