Oxtail stew recipe | Jamie Oliver soup and stew recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes stew more flavorful? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

Alternate way to thicken stew gravy: Remove the oxtails/vegetables, leaving the liquid in the pot. Make a cornstarch slurry in a small bowl (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water, mixed until combined). Stir mixture into stew liquid and simmer until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes.

Use a pound of oxtail per person; 3-3.5 pounds (bone included) should be enough for three adults. Let oxtail cook as long as possible in a slow cooker for meat that falls off the bone. At the shop, ask the butcher to saw the oxtail into pieces no more than 2 inches thick. This will make cooking it easier.

The oven is key. Best beef stew I have made to date was braised in the oven. Nice and tender! Think about umami bombs you may have lying around: Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, anchovies, soy sauce , dried mushrooms.

I contacted Laurence to get the lowdown on why she adds tomato paste to her beef stew. "I include tomato paste in many braised recipes because it adds a depth of flavor without increasing the liquid quantity in the dish," Laurence explains.

Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

Add plenty of pepper and some salt and it should taste better. Using beef stock or red wine is better than water for the liquid. Use just enough to cover the meat and vegetables. It's better to use less liquid if possible so you don't end up having to thicken the stew later with corn starch or similar.

Don't Rush the Stewing of the Stew

Your beef stew needs at least two hours, sometimes three, on a low burner, so the meat is tender, and the flavors mingle. This isn't a dish to rush; it's a dish to make on a lazy weekend so you can enjoy the smell as it stews.

Jamaican oxtail is very special due to the infusion of flavors that make this dish come alive. Braised in fresh herbs & spices such as thyme, scallion, scotch bonnet, allspice, and sometimes ginger, this dish is a labor of love that is totally worth it in the end.

Do you have to brown oxtails before cooking? ›

Browning your oxtails will not cook the meat. Instead, it will enhance its color and aroma by caramelizing its exterior. Browning beef oxtails in a hot skillet before braising will also add rich depth and flavor to the meat.

Versions of oxtail soup are popular traditional dishes in South America, West Africa, China, Spain, Korea and Indonesia.

How much to buy: Figure about 1 pound of oxtails for each main-dish serving, as in a stew, and two to three servings a pound for soup. To prepare for cooking: Oxtails are usually available already cut into pieces in supermarkets. If not, have the butcher saw the tail into 1 1/2- to 2-inch-thick pieces.

Roasted root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and turnips are a delicious and healthy side dish that pairs well with oxtails. The sweet and savory flavors of the vegetables provide a satisfying contrast to the meaty and flavorful oxtails.

Things like cinnamon, turmeric, curry powders, fresh ground peppercorns, sage, tarragon and dill can all pick up where you left the salt out. Allow yourself some discovery. Without the added sodium, herbs and spices can offer a different depth of flavor especially if you grind them up yourself.