Chef Chuck's Beef Osso Buco

Osso Buco


A heart warming dinner for two, beef osso buco, is awakening all our senses. Served over creamy mash potatoes the beef, vegetables and gravy are so rich with a beefy flavor. Traditionally made with veal and white wine, I prefer preparing this dish with beef and red wine. A wonderful Milanese dish, that I love to prepare on these chilly evenings.


Beef Osso Buco


2 beef shanks, 1 pound
1/4 cup flour
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, sliced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup red wine, Chianti
2 cups beef broth
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper


Bring beef shanks to room temperature, wash and pat dry. Dredge in flour, shake off excess. In a large pot heat olive oil and brown shanks on both sides. Remove and set aside. Add vegetables and saute on medium for about 5 minutes, add garlic. Cook tomato paste for 2 minutes, stirring. Pour in wine and simmer a minute or two to deglaze and reduce, then add beef shanks, broth, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Simmer on low with lid on for 2 hours. Serves two.

Chef Chuck's Chianti Chili Con Carne

A hot and spicy ground beef dish with Chianti, fresh vegetables, red sauce, beans and hot peppers. I used chili peppers from the island of Stromboli, in this extraordinary dish. The hotter the pepper the better and this dish is sure to warm you up this evening.

Chianti Chili Con Carne

1 pound ground beef
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup Chianti

1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 can cannellini beans

2 hot chili peppers, chopped

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon dried oregano

salt to taste

In a large pot heat olive oil add onions, carrots, celery and chili peppers cook on medium heat 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add beef and chili powder, brown beef then add red wine. Pour in tomato sauce, water, oregano and salt, simmer for 30 minutes, add beans and cook an additional 10 minutes. Serve over toasted bread or rice.