With the World Cup over you would think it was time to return to normal sleeping patterns. However, this is not the case. Each year in the month of July the Tour de France cycling race is on. This race involves 21 sleepless nights on my part watching 198 guys on bikes riding between 170 and 220 kilometres a day, at speeds up to 100 kilometres an hour all in pursuit of the converted Maillot Journe (or yellow jersey in English). These cyclists are crazy and although they wear tightly fitting lycra and shave their legs they are the toughest sportsmen on the planet. You will never look at a football player the same again. Cycling is indeed a real tough guy sport.
You may ask why I speak of a cycling race on a cooking blog. Firstly it is in France and French people love good food. Secondly each night on SBS’s TdF coverage of the race they have a small 5 minute segment hosted by renowned chef Gabriel Gaté called Taste le Tour. Each day he describes some of the foods of the region they are cycling through. I call it late night food porn. Even if you have no interest in the race it is well worth watching.
For this post I have cooked one of his dishes from last years tour Osso Buco. I know you are saying isn’t that an Italian Dish? And indeed it is. Last year the Tour rode a day predominantly on Italian soil, hence an Italian dish was featured. This dish exceeded my expectations and I will be cooking it again. The gremolata really lifts the flavour and makes it special so don’t think of omitting it.
Osso Buco |
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| Adapted from “Taste Le Tour” by François Le Gendarme (aka Gabriel Gaté)
Serves 4 Ingredients |
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| 4 | Large Pieces of Osso Buco | |
| 2 tbsp | Plain Flour | |
| 2 tbsp | Olive Oil | |
| ½ | Onion, finely diced | |
| 1 | Garlic Clove, finely diced | |
| ½ | Carrot, finely diced | |
| 1 | Celery Stick, finely diced | |
| ½ cup | Dry White Wine | |
| 2 | Tomatoes (skinned and diced) | |
| 1 tbsp | Tomato Paste | |
| 1 | Bay leaf | |
| 4 | Thyme, sprigs | |
| 1 cup | Beef Stock | |
| Gremolata | ||
| 1 tbsp | Parsley, finely chopped | |
| 1 | Garlic Clove, finely chopped | |
| 1 | Lemon zest, finely chopped | |
Method |
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Perfect food for the weather we’re having at the moment. I love sitting back to eat and watching others do the extreme sporty stuff – best way of exercising that I can think of!
I can’t help but admire anyone that has such strength and endurance as these guys do. Osso bucco is such a rich and delicious dish and the addition of gremolata would definitely cut through that richness
Looks great, Mark.
A lot of recipes don’t mention the gremolata, but i think that it lifts osso buco to a whole new level!
meat! dude i totally want to eat this right now argh so hungry and i love the potato in the background!
aye curamba! Love osso buco, esp when it is nice and tener.
I love love love this dish! They are perfect to go with a saffron risotta.
Yeah, is that a hasselback potato? Why no mention of it in your lovely recipe (it should have a starring role!). I love the Tour as well, all that magnificient scenery, and the countryside is nice, too.
Oh these potatoes were a total fail. They looked good but I forgot to put them in the oven so they weren’t cooked through. Maybe I’ll post them another day.
Agree with Bel, the Hasselback potato definitely deserves a mention
Yum! That looks so hearty and perfect for winter. I had no idea they had a food segment in the middle of the tour de france coverage – that actually sounds rather enticing!
Yes it is usually on at about 10:10-10:20 timeslot. Tonight he cooked a bacon, chorizo and bean stew. It looked seriously good.
Oh gosh that looks good! I can feel the warmth of it right through my screen!
I agree with the above sentiments – Hasselback potato! Too bad it didn’t turn out as you wanted but I must commend you on some seriously neat knife skills =)
Love Osso Buco! Great recipe and presentation!
Ohh sounds like a perfect winter meal. Have had osso buco before and have always wanted to try it at home, but it’s ended up being one of those ‘one day’ dishes that keeps getting pushed down a long list.
I am not a big fan of the Tour but love this dish! Such a winter comfort dish
Agree, osso buco with gremolata is the way to go. Looks so good! Love the way the colour of the gremolata alone is enough to lift the dish!
I absolutely agree with you about the gremolata! I haven’t made osso buco in a while, but now feel totally inspired to try your recipe. Thanks ever so much.
I love long braised dishes. they are so rich and heartwarming. your ossobuco looks lovely