Braised Oxtails with Tomatoes, Celery and Capers

Ingredients:
3 lb oxtails (about 5)
1 cup dry white wine
14 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained
1 3 oz smoked pork chop, diced
2 shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 cayenne pepper, minced
zest of 1 lemon
1 1/2 teaspoon nonpareil capers
freshly ground black pepper
salt
Wondra (or other super-fine flour)

Directions:
Heat some olive oil in a Dutch oven. Toss the oxtails in Wondra flour to coat. Lightly brown the oxtail and pork. Add to a 4 quart slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 8 hours.

My thoughts:

Oxtail isn’t something I make a lot. Mainly because despite traditionally being a “cheap” cut of meat, they are either hard to find or oddly steak-expensive. But a new grocery opened up near by and they had good, meaty looking oxtails at a reasonable price so I picked some up. They are a wonderful cut of meat for the slow cooker, the low and slow means that that the end result is meltingly tender despite starting off tough. We’ve had oxtails in the Caribbean that were delightful but I thought I’d go Italian-inspired for this dish. It was great because it provided enough vegetables I didn’t feel the need to make a side dish, I just served it over some polenta. I suggest you do the same.

2 Comments

  1. Jen @ Savory Simple

    Ah, I've been looking for a new slow cooker recipe! This looks great.

  2. Toni Tanner Scott

    My favorite! No one in my house will eat oxtails, so this treat is reserved for when my hubby is away on business and the kiddos are having takeout. I make mine in the pressure cooker and finish them in the oven. I've never made them with capers–must try soon.