VEAL SHANKS WITH CAPERS AND GREEN OLIVES (for six)

 

¾ cup unpitted, brine cured green olives, preferably cracked, rinsed well

2 pounds 2 inch thick veal shanks (about 6 to 8 shanks), each tied securely with kitchen string to keep the meat attached to the bone

all purpose flour for dredging

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 medium large onion, halved lengthwise and sliced thin

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 anchovy fillet, chopped

five 3 by ½ inch strips fresh lemon zest

1-1/2 tablespoons drained bottled capers

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried, crumbled

1-1/2 cups dry white wine

1-1/2 cups low salt chicken broth

gremolata to accompany (recipe follows)

caperberries to garnish

 

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1. Preheat oven to 425*.

2. Pit ¼ cup olives and chop fine. Lightly crush remaining ½ cup olives with the side of a large knife.

3. Pat veal shanks dry between paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Dredge top and bottom (not side) of each shank in flour, knocking off excess. In a 12 inch heavy skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and brown tops and bottoms of shanks in batches, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer shanks as browned to a flameproof roasting pan.

4. Wipe out skillet and add remaining tablespoon oil. Heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion, stirring, until golden. Add garlic and anchovy and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add chopped olives, zest, capers, rosemary and wine and boil 5 minutes. Add broth and cracked olives and bring to a boil.

7. Pour broth mixture over shanks and cover tightly with foil. Braise shanks in oven for 2 hours, or until meat is tender. Shanks may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead and cooled, uncovered, before chilling, covered. Reheat shanks before proceeding.

8. Reduce oven temperature to 325*.

9. Transfer shanks with a slotted spoon to another roasting pan or deep ovenproof platter and keep warm, covered, in oven. Strain cooking liquid through a sieve into a 1 quart glass measuring cup and reserve solids, discarding zest. Let liquid strand until fat rises to top and skim and discard fat. (There should be about 1-1/2 cups liquid. If necessary, boil liquid in a saucepan until it is reduced.) Add reserved solids to liquid and pour over shanks.

10. Serve shanks sprinkled with gremolata and garnished with caperberries.

 

GREMOLATA (about 1/3 cup)

¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic, or to taste

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1. In a small bowl, toss all ingredients together well.

 

from the Best of Gourmet, 1996