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.
For another Italian style braised beef recipe in the pressure cooker, check out my Instant Pot Boneless Short Ribs.
Recipe: Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)
Inspired By: Lorna Sass Pressure Perfect
Equipment
- Pressure cooker, at least 6 quarts (I use my giant Kuhn Rikon 12-quart pressure cooker)
Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Pressure cooker osso bucco. Beef shanks, meltingly tender in under an hour.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 6 thick beef shank slices (1 ½ to 2 inches thick), about 3 pounds
- 3 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 ½ 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)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chicken stock (preferably homemade)
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
Gremolata
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup parsley leaves
Instructions
- 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 ½ 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.
- Saute the aromatics: Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, tomato paste, and thyme to the pot. Sprinkle with ½ 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Equipment
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Sunday Dinner
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
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
Instant Pot Easy Braised Oxtail
Inspired by:
Lorna Sass Pressure Perfect
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Michelle
Love this recipe! Thanks
Kelly Gilcrist
This is cooking now and smells amazing. Whenever I Google a recipe for my IP and your version comes up I always use it and they have all been great! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Jon C
Made this and subbed in a dry red for the white, added crimini mushrooms. Served over parmesan mashed potatoes. So very good.
HG
I have made this recipe 4 times now using pork shank when I can find it. It is better than any upscale restaurant can make!
It will be tonight's Valentine's meal--
TKG
I saw beef shin at the butcher, who mentioned Osso Bucco as a good dish for it. Anytime I google 'pressure cooker [insert dish name here]' your site pops up, and I've yet to be disappointed by a recipe. Thanks so much for taking the time to post them. I have the same 12-qt Kuhn Rikon as you, as well as an Instant Pot, and I owe both those purchases to your positive reviews as well. Indispensable items in my cooking aresenal!
Kimberly
Dannnng, this was sooooo delicious! And the first time I ever cooked a beef shank. Thank you!!!
Brian
Second time making this in my Instant pot. Simple and very tasty! The Beef shank went on sale
again making it tonight.
Sherry
I was looking for an Osso Buco recipe for my new InstantPot ~ this was perfect! I made it exactly as called for, using Pinot Grigio. The only change I made was added 2oz chopped anchovy fillets to the gremolata - yum! Served with salad and over salted, warmed zucchini noodles for Paleo friendly - although Husband did have toast with the marrow!
Delicious ~ thank you!
Yamilet Navarro
Thank you for a delicious and easy recipe! First time preparing Osso Bucco and in my brand new Insta Pot...definitely delish! Happy Holidays and thank you for sharing.
Terri
Excellent recipe!! Thank you! My husbands favorite! First time making with beef but it was delicious!
Mike Vrobel
You're welcome!
Doug
My 94 y/o mother-in-law who is Very PICKEYYYYYY.....went back for seconds, unbelievable!
Excellent recipe.
Thank you very much
Ann
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. 😀
Ann
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!!!
Mike Vrobel
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.
Renee
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?
Mike V
Hit "cancel/keep warm" on the cooker after the appropriate cooking time.
CarolCV
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
Mike V
You're welcome!