Pressure cooker, Sunday dinner
Published on October 20, 2011
comments 48

Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)

written by Mike Vrobel
Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)

Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)

I love osso bucco, the perfect example of peasant cooking. The big round of shank meat, the herb and citrus flavor of the gremolata, the melting marrow from the big central bone. The only thing is – traditionally, it is made with veal shank. And with the cost of veal, this really isn’t peasant cooking any more.
*OK, I’m cheap. Well, until it’s time to buy a new kitchen gadget, then I won’t be stopped. You expect me to be consistent?

Luckily, beef shanks are a lot less expensive than veal shanks, and provide just as good of a meal. Here’s my “weeknight” osso bucco, prepared in the pressure cooker.
*Don’t have a pressure cooker? No worries. See the Variations section for instructions on cooking with a standard dutch oven.

Recipe: Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)

Inspired By: Lorna Sass Pressure Perfect

Equipment

 

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Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)

★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author:
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Pressure Cooker
  • Cuisine: Italian
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Description

Pressure cooker osso bucco. Beef shanks, meltingly tender in under an hour.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 6 thick beef shank slices (1 1/2 to 2 inches thick), about 3 pounds
  • 3 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 sprigs thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup chicken stock (preferably homemade)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 15 oz can diced tomatoes

Gremolata

  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 cup parsley leaves

Instructions

  1. Season and sear the shanks in two batches: Trim all the fat you can from the outside of the beef shanks, then (optionally) tie with twine to hold them together. Season the shanks with 3 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat in the pressure cooker pot until shimmering. Add half the shanks, and sear for 3 minutes per side, or until well browned. Remove the browned shanks to a bowl. Add the second half of the shanks to the pot, and sear for 3 minutes per side. Move the second batch into to the bowl. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the oil and fat in the cooker.
  2. Saute the aromatics: Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, tomato paste, and thyme to the pot. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute for five minutes, or until the onions are softened. Add the chicken stock and wine to the pot, increase the heat to high, and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits from the bottom.
  3. Pressure cook the shanks: Add the shanks and any liquid in their bowl back into the pot. Submerge the shanks in the liquid as much as possible. Pour the tomatoes on top, but don’t stir. Lock the lid on the pressure cooker, bring the pressure cooker up to high pressure, then cook at high pressure for 30 minutes in a stovetop PC, 36 minutes in an electric PC. Remove from the heat, allow the pressure to come down naturally for 15 minutes, then quick release any pressure left in the pot.
  4. Prepare the gremolata: While the shanks are cooking, make the gremolata. Mince the garlic, lemon zest, and parsley leaves together, then toss in a small bowl to combine.
  5. Prepare the sauce: Remove the shanks to a serving platter. Pour the sauce into a fat separator, let it rest for ten minutes for the fat to surface, then pour into a serving boat. To serve, put a shank on the plate, pour some sauce over the top, then sprinkle a little gremloata on top.

 

Notes

  • Veal Osso Bucco: As I said in the opening, real osso buco uses veal shank, not beef shank. Veal shank tastes great…but is really expensive. If you can afford it (or find it cheap), it cooks exactly like beef shanks – use the same instructions and timing.
  • Don’t have a pressure cooker? No worries. Use a heavy bottomed dutch oven with a lid, and increase the amount of chicken stock to 2 cups. Follow the instructions right up until “lock the lid”. Then, instead of pressure cooking, bring the pot to a boil, and cover with the lid. Move the pot to a preheated 350*F oven and bake for 2 hours, until the beef shanks are tender. Continue with the prepare the gremolata step.
  • Serve with polenta or mashed potatoes to soak up the extra sauce. Also, the marrow in the bones may be the best part of the meal – scoop it out and serve on toast. (Or just eat it straight up, like I do.)
  • If you have the time, refrigerate the shanks overnight to help remove the fat. After cooking, let the shanks cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight, or up to 3 days. This will let the fat rise to the surface and solidify. To serve, lift the solid fat from the shanks, then reheat the shanks over medium heat on the stove.
  • The marrow is the best part of this dish, especially spread on toast. Mmmm…beef marrow…

What do you think? Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.

Related Posts:
Pressure Cooker Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)
Pressure Cooker Short Ribs with Mexican Flavors
Pressure Cooker Chinese Pork with Dried Plum Sauce

Inspired by:
Lorna Sass Pressure Perfect

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48 Comments

  1. Declan says

    You remind me of my grandmother who used to crack open the bones and suck the marrow out. I still cringe while thinking about it.

    I’d like to make this but I don’t know if I could touch the marrow.

    Reply
  3. MikeV @ DadCooksDinner says

    @Declan:

    The marrow is the best part. My first reaction was the same – yuck, marrow? But you need to try it with an open mind. Spread it on some toast, and see what you think of it.

    @Russ Gladden:

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bette says

      Ingredients say 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. But the directions say 1-1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Which amount is correct?

      Reply
  4. honeybee says

    Hi Mike:
    I love your blog and have made your pressure cooked beef stock with much success.

    I was wondering if you have ever considered providing weight measurement as well as volume measurements in your recipes?
    Your European readers would be very grateful! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Janice Yu says

    This was our first ever attempt at Beef Shank and it was deelish! Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
  11. RMADJA says

    Great. I have made this with veal, and today with chicken thighs – that was handy in the freezer. Both times GREAT.

    Reply
  13. Steph Bo says

    I’m new with the pressure cooker so have been looking for recipes, and this one was great! first time using beef shanks and first time with the pressure cooker! thank you for your recipe!

    Reply
  14. maria says

    Wow – my first beef shank, my first time cooking it in a pressure cooker and wow, it was so delicious. I had to improvise because I didn’t have all the ingredients for the aromatics ( I used onion, green beans, oregano and parsley!) and I didn’t have fresh parsley for the gremolata but let me say – that lemony gremolata was KEY. The meat was fork tender, the flavor – I didn’t even need the sauce, it was so moist and tasty. And, the marrow was the best part. My bones were small so I only got a tiny bit of marrow;( Anyway, good job, Dad. This is a keeper!

    Reply
  16. Tori says

    I just made this last night and it was delicious! I’m new to cooking with a PC and am very impressed so far. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
  18. Ray Morford says

    There is nothing wrong with the marrow. Some of you picky eaters need to get over it. Some in my household say it’s a texture thing. GET OVER IT….It’s all about the flavor.

    Reply
  20. patscomputerservices says

    Two questions…

    1. You have to slice the beef shanks across the bone, right? If so, how hard is it to cut through the rib bones?
    2. If you don’t have/use wine, should you increase the chicken broth or substitute something else in?

    Reply
  21. Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says

    1. Beef shank is from the leg – you have to cut through the leg bone. I buy the shanks pre-cut at my butcher – he has a band saw…

    2. More chicken broth is a good substitute. Then, to replace the missing acidity, I’d add a splash of vinegar (preferably a sweet vinegar, like balsamic) to the sauce once everything is done cooking.

    Reply
  22. patscomputerservices says

    Thank you. I’m going to be cooking this as part of a Whole 30 challenge (or maybe just a Paleo Challenge in general), and in the Whole 30, you’re not allowed wine or any alcohol.

    Reply
  24. DLopez says

    Awesome recipe!! Meat was super tender and sauce really flavorful. All the steps were spot on. Definitely making again.

    Reply
  26. GregDarcy says

    I teamed this with Laura’s (HipPressureCooking) lemon and pepper risotto today. Both were brilliant in their own right and a perfect match for each other.

    Thank you for the inspiration

    Reply
    • Mike V says

      Fruity red without a lot of oak – I’d go with an Italian red blend, or a Cote du Rhone style blend.

      Reply
      • Mike V says

        Whoops – sorry about the previous answer – wrong recipe.

        Any dry White wine will work with this recipe. (That’s why I didn’t get any more specific in the recipe itself.)

        I use Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, because I like them, so they’re what I usually have on hand.

        The wine adds an undercurrent of fruit and acid; by the time the pressure cooker is done with it, most other differences in the wine will be cooked away. I have used my mom’s favorite – cheap chardonnay – and really couldn’t tell much of a difference in the end.

        Reply
  29. Joe Innecken says

    Love the way you explain the recipe This is the 1st recipe i’m gonna do by you. The Beef Shank. I am using 2 BIG shank cuts I guess ill reduce the ingredient piortions portions by half

    Reply
  30. Steve Skelton says

    This is unbelievably delicious. I have the same pressure cooker and decided to make this tonight and it was 5 star fabulous. Thanks for a great recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  31. JeanneS says

    I have made Osso Bucco with big, chunky country style pork ribs when the beef prices are getting ridiculous. It is absolutely delicious. Now that I have an electric pressure cooker, I was looking forward to trying to cook O.B. in it. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  32. CarolCV says

    Made this exactly as written for my DH’s birthday. Everyone loved it. I prepped it in advance by searing the meat and sautéing the vegetables. About 60min before we were ready to eat, I pushed the button on my electric pressure cooker for meat 36 min. I served it with green beans and salad. This was my first time serving beef shank. I bought mine at BJs. After I bought it, I also shopped at Market Basket and Shaws, and looked to see if they carried beef shanks, but didn’t see it Thank you for the great recipe

    Reply
  33. Renee says

    Uh oh, I seemed to remember that this needed 2 hours in the Instant Pot and it’s on now – I wonder what will happen if I cook it that long? And I forgot to put the garlic in. Thoughts?

    Reply
  34. Ann says

    Mike, thanks so much for this recipe! I’ve been searching for one that uses beef shanks instead of veal shanks for a LONG time.

    Two questions.
    1. How many pounds of osso buco would you say you’re using here?

    2. I have shanks of the right thickness, but they’re VERY big–about 5 inches across at the widest point and weighing about 22 ounces each. I reckon I could fit a max of two in the pressure cooker without crowding. Suggestions on time, etc.?

    Thanks SO much!!!

    Reply
    • Mike Vrobel says

      I’m using about 3 pounds of beef shanks. And, use the timing as stated in the recipe – the thickness matters more than the width.

      Reply
  35. Ann says

    Mike this osso bucco was outstanding! This will definitely be a go-to recipe for us.
    The only difference I made was adding a bit more salt, pepper, and garlic.
    LOVE it!
    Thanks again for a recipe that uses big ol’ pieces of shank. 😀

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  36. Doug says

    My 94 y/o mother-in-law who is Very PICKEYYYYYY…..went back for seconds, unbelievable!

    Excellent recipe.

    Thank you very much

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  37. Terri says

    Excellent recipe!! Thank you! My husbands favorite! First time making with beef but it was delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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