Best Southern Oxtail Recipe

In recent years, many elaborate and modern dishes have emerged, but if you want to go back to basics, then delve with us into the world of Spanish recipes with oxtail.

These recipes transport us to the best things of a bygone era in Andalusia, and among them, the Southern oxtail recipe will become one of your favorites if you are looking for a versatile dish that can serve as a main dish, appetizer, or tapa all at once. 

In this article, we will teach you how to make this recipe from scratch, with tricks for storing and serving it, as well as tips for ingredient substitutions to customize the recipe to your liking.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish oxtail recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Oxtail stew with potatoes

• Oxtail noodle soup

• Braised oxtail

Background of the Dish

Throughout human history, oxtail recipes served to help people sustain themselves during times of famine and economic crises, as it is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat that has all the positive aspects of other types of meat.

In Andalusia, there are hundreds of recipes of this style, but the Southern oxtail recipe still manages to stand out because it is easy to make, and the result is a dish that can be served as finger food or as an authentic main course.

In this recipe, you will find the essence of the flavors of Southern Spanish cuisine, as the braised meat blends with garlic, onion, paprika, and olive oil.

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Things You’ll Need for Southern Oxtail Recipe

To make this southern oxtail recipe you need oxtail, beef broth, vegetable oil, flour, garlic cloves, onions, and canned crushed tomatoes as the main ingredients.

Just like most of the Spanish-style oxtail stew recipes, you only need a heavy pot or Dutch oven as the main appliance for this recipe.

Ingredients

• 2kg oxtails
• 1 cup (120ml) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
• 2 onions
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 cups (480ml) beef broth
• 1/2 cup (120ml) red wine (optional)
• 1 can (400gr) diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 cup (60ml) Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and black pepper to taste

How to Make Southern Oxtail Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this southern oxtail recipe, you have to peel and chop the onions into small squares. Also, peel and mince the garlic cloves.

2. After that, pat the oxtail dry with kitchen paper and cut it into chunks. Season the oxtail pieces generously with salt and black pepper and dredge them in flour, shaking off excess.

3. Now grab a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven (it must fit in your oven) and heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the oxtails in batches until they are golden on all sides. Remove the browned oxtails and set them aside.

4. Using the same pot, add chopped onions and garlic. Sauté until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.

5. Then, pour in the red wine (if using) to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. This step is optional for this southern style oxtails recipe, but we can assure you that it will add a new layer of incredible flavor to your dish.

6. After that, you can return the browned oxtails to the pot and add beef broth, diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well to combine.

7. For the next step in this easy southern oxtail recipe, you have to preheat your oven to 392°F (200°C). 

8. Then, cover the pot and transfer it to the preheated oven. Let it cook in the oven for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the oxtails are tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally.

9. Now, do a taste test and adjust the seasoning if needed. If the sauce is too thick, you can add more beef broth or water. For a thicker or creamier sauce, you can add 1/2 cup of heavy cream or a couple of tablespoons of flour and stir them in.

10. Your beef oxtail recipe will be ready once the meat pieces are tender. Also, make sure to remove the bay leaves and discard them.

11. For the final step on this southern oxtail recipe, you just have to serve your fantastic Andalusian dish over rice, mashed potatoes, or your favorite side dish. 

Substitution of Ingredients

We know that wanting to try a recipe and realizing that you don’t have all the ingredients at home, or that they don’t fit your preferences can be a headache.

That’s why we bring you these tips for substitutions that you can make without affecting the outcome of your Southern oxtail recipe.

First, you can prepare this red wine oxtail stew using gluten-free flour, but if you follow that diet make sure to properly clean every appliance that you use and that the rest of the ingredients are gluten-free too.

Once you finish preparing this recipe the flavor is similar to the old-fashioned oxtail stew, and you can give it a modern twist by adding balsamic glaze, fresh basil pesto, a teaspoon of grated ginger, etc.

You can do other similar Spanish oxtail stew recipes, such as the oxtail stew with vegetables, and add different vegetables to the mix: carrots, potatoes, celery stalks, etc.

Give a go to our healthy and nutritious keto oxtail recipe, especially if you’re on a diet.

Tips on Serving Southern Oxtail Recipe

The moment of serving a dish is crucial since you can opt for the simplest option to enjoy it as it is or add twists that will make your food stand out in different ways.

This Southern oxtail recipe will give you the perfect main dish if you serve it with other side dishes, such as Spanish mashed potatoes, tortilla de patatas, Spanish potato salad or do like the oxtail pasta recipe and serve it with your favorite noodles.

Since this is the best Southern oxtail recipe, you can also serve it as an appetizer or tapas; just place the oxtail cubes on a platter and serve them with slices of your favorite bread (fresh or toasted).

Similar to other Southern-style oxtail recipes, this one pairs well with toppings like freshly chopped herbs (dill, cilantro, rosemary, parsley) or grated cheese (manchego, parmesan).

How to Store Southern Oxtail Recipe

One of the first questions that arises when making any dish is whether it can be stored to eat another day (especially if you have many leftovers and don’t know what to do with them).

The good news is that you can prepare the Southern oxtail recipe and save it for later.

To do this, once you finish making the oxtail southern recipe, let it cool to room temperature and transfer it to a freezer-safe container with a lid.

After covering the container, place it in the refrigerator, where it can last for 3 days, or in the freezer, where it can last up to 45 days (we recommend adding a label with the date to keep track).

Later, you can reheat your Southern oxtail in the microwave for a couple of minutes with intervals for stirring, or in the oven at medium heat (checking that it doesn’t burn).

Fortunately, there are other regular or Southern oxtail recipes that you can prepare and save to enjoy another day, such as the oven baked oxtail recipe or the tender oxtail recipe.

Recipe Card: Southern Oxtail Recipe

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