This rich and flavorful oxtail stew recipe is also very healthy. Enjoy it as is, or on a bed of mashed cauliflower, for the perfect comfort food meal.
This beautiful rich stew is so incredibly flavorful! Wonderfully fatty, tender meat, that literally falls off the bone. It’s one of my favorite winter comfort food dishes.
If you like slow-cooked, rich and aromatic beef dishes, you will love this oxtail stew recipe!
The ingredients you’ll need
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this tasty dish. Exact amounts are included in the recipe card below:
- Bone-in oxtails
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Rice vinegar
- Honey
- Hot sauce
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Cornstarch
How to make this oxtail stew recipe
It’s easy! The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:
- Start by placing the oxtails in your crockpot.
- Whisk together the remaining ingredients except for the cornstarch.
- Pour over the meat. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Reduce the cooking liquids over medium heat, adding a solution of cornstarch and water to help them thicken.
- Serve the meat with the rich sauce.
How long does it take for oxtails to get tender?
This meat is tough, but slow cooking it allows the meat to become very tender and the fat to soften and melt. I cook this stew in the slow cooker on the low setting for 8 hours to get the best results.
Where to get oxtails
I get them at my local Whole Foods. It’s readily available in the meat department. It’s also available online.
Is oxtail stew healthy?
I believe it is. Oxtail, which is the tail of an ox cut into pieces, is rich in gelatin, and gelatin has several health benefits.
Current dietary advice is to limit red meat. But fresh unprocessed red meat is very nutritious.
As long as one doesn’t overindulge, or have a specific issue that requires them to limit saturated fat, I believe it does have a place in a healthy diet.
Of course, you can always opt for chicken or seafood instead.
What about leftovers?
Leftovers keep very well in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. In fact, like many stews, they taste even better the next day. I reheat them gently, in the microwave, covered, on 50% power.
What side dishes go with oxtail stew?
Since it’s a wonderfully saucy dish, I like to serve it on top of something that would absorb those juices.
So I almost always serve this dish on top of mashed cauliflower. And then I add something green, such as roasted asparagus.
More slow cooker recipes that you might enjoy
In addition to this recipe, I also love making braised short ribs and slow cooked beef cheeks. Both are so rich and comforting!
Oxtail Stew
INGREDIENTS
- 3 lb. raw bone-in oxtails
- ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce (or use a gluten-free alternative and add salt)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (omit if using soy sauce)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (or ½ teaspoon konjac flour)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the oxtails in your slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients except for the cornstarch. Pour over the oxtails, and stir to coat.
- Cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat is very tender.
- Temporarily transfer the cooked oxtails to a platter. Strain the liquids from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Return the oxtails to the slow cooker, cover with the lid, and set to WARM.
- Heat the cooking liquids on medium heat. Whisk the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water and stir it into the saucepan. Keep cooking the sauce, whisking often, until it has thickened into a rich glaze, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the oxtails from the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the oxtails and serve.
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a healthy real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken 
