OXTAIL RAGù WITH SEMOLINA GNOCCHI

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Oxtail Ragù with Semolina Gnocchi image

The perfect make-ahead meal, this recipe makes a lot of ragù. Keep some in the freezer and serve it over quick-cooking polenta for an easy weeknight dinner.

Categories     Bon Appétit     Meat     Pasta     Garlic     Red Wine     Tomato     Vinegar     Parmesan     Dinner     Winter

Yield Serves 8

Number Of Ingredients 24

Ragù:
5 pounds oxtails, cut crosswise into pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons Diamond Crystal or 1 tablespoon Morton kosher salt, plus more
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 large carrots, peeled, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 head of garlic, cloves separated, smashed
4 sprigs rosemary
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine
1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup red wine vinegar or Sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Gnocchi and assembly:
3 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Kosher salt
1 cup fine-grind semolina flour
1 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

Steps:

  • Ragù:
  • Toss oxtails, flour, pepper, 2 Tbsp. or 1 Tbsp. salt in a large bowl until oxtails are evenly coated. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Working in batches, cook oxtails in a single layer, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 15-20 minutes. Transfer oxtails to a plate as they're done.
  • Cook onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and rosemary in same pot, stirring often, until vegetables are browned around edges, 10-15 minutes. Add wine, tomatoes, vinegar, and honey, stirring and scraping up browned bits; bring to a boil. Season with several generous pinches of salt and return oxtails to pot. Pour in water just to cover oxtails; bring to a gentle simmer. Partially cover and cook, reducing heat as needed to keep at a bare simmer, until meat is falling off the bone, 3-3 1/2 hours. Let cool; cover and chill at least 12 hours.
  • Gnocchi and assembly:
  • Line a 13x9" baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhang on 2 sides. Bring milk, butter, and several pinches of salt to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium. Gradually whisk in semolina and cook, whisking, until very thick and bubbling, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add 1 cup Parmesan and whisk until smooth. Whisk in egg yolk and scrape gnocchi mixture into prepared pan; smooth top. Cover and chill until set, at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
  • Meanwhile, remove ragù from fridge and skim fat from surface. Warm ragù over low until heated through, then transfer oxtails to a plate. Increase heat to medium and bring braising liquid to a simmer. Cook until reduced to the consistency of gravy, 5-10 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Pick meat from bones and shred into small pieces. Return meat to ragù; discard bones. Transfer 2 cups ragù to an airtight container and save for later. Cover pot; keep remaining ragù warm over low heat.
  • Turn out gnocchi mixture onto a clean surface and remove parchment paper; slice into about 1" squares.
  • Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add half of gnocchi to skillet, arrange in a single layer, and cook, undisturbed, until browned and crisp underneath, about 3 minutes. Toss to turn and cook until other side is browned and crisp, about 2 minutes. Spoon into pot with ragù. Repeat with remaining gnocchi. Gently toss gnocchi in ragù; season with more salt if needed. Divide among bowls; top with parsley and more Parmesan.
  • Do Ahead
  • Ragù can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill, or freeze up to 4 weeks.

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