Best Tender Oxtail Recipe from Spain

Some Spanish recipes have the power to make certain ingredients that are often discarded or avoided in other regional cuisines stand out.

That’s the case with Spanish oxtail recipes, where this cut of meat has the chance to shine as the authentic hidden gem that it is, and the tender oxtail recipe is one of the best examples.

In this article, we will tell you all about how to make tender oxtails, and we will also share information on what ingredients you can substitute, how you can serve this dish, and the various ways in which you can store it to enjoy later.

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

• Fried oxtail recipe

• Spanish oxtail soup

• Spanish oxtail stew

Background of the Dish

Oxtail is a type of meat that has always been abundant in the south of Spain, but due to its texture people tended to avoid it and choose other cuts of meat. 

Andalusians tried different ways to make the meat more tender, adding more broth and ensuring slow but steady cooking, and thanks to these efforts, the tender oxtail recipe was born.

It quickly became the best-ever oxtail recipe as it helped overcome the texture issue of this cut of meat (which used to be difficult to eat), also becoming a dish full of flavor and nutrients.

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Things You’ll Need for Tender Oxtail Recipe

To prepare the tender oxtail recipe you need oxtail beef, onion, carrots, red bell pepper, garlic cloves, and beef broth as the main ingredient.

You will need a large and heavy pot or deep baking tray to prepare this recipe too, preferably with a lid.

Ingredients

• 2.5kg oxtail
• 1/2 cup (60gr) all-purpose flour 
• 4 cups (1l) beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 3 celery stalks
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Tender Oxtail Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step on this authentic oxtail recipe you have to peel and wash the carrots, onion, and celery stalks and cut them into small pieces. Also, clean the bell pepper, discard the seeds, and the stem, and cut it into small cubes. Lastly, peel and mince the garlic. Set them aside.

2. After that, pat the oxtail beef dry with paper towels. You can cut them into chunks or leave them as it is, it is completely up to you. Season them with salt and pepper and coat them with the flour, shaking off the excess.

3. Now grab a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven and heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the oxtail on all sides until well-seared. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot. Remove the browned oxtail and set aside.

4. Using the same pot, add chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Saute until the vegetables reach a soft texture, for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, wash and chop the tomatoes into small pieces.

5. Then, return the browned oxtail to the pot. Add beef broth, paprika, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Stir well to combine. Preheat the oven to 180°C or low heat.

6. For the next step in this oxtail Spanish recipe, bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and take it to the oven at low heat for 2 to 3 hours or until the meat is tender.

7. After that, do a taste test and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Remove the bay leaves.

8. For the final step in this tender oxtail recipe serve the meat warm with the vegetables and sauce and top. Optionally, you can top it with some fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme or parsley.

Substitution of Ingredients

If you want to prepare this tender oxtail recipe but you don’t have all of the ingredients at home there is no need to worry, there are some replacements that you can make.

For example, you can prepare this stewed oxtail recipe with vegetable broth or water and a bouillon (make sure to dissolve it properly).

The olive oil will help you to reach that classic Spanish style oxtail recipe flavor, but you could replace it with any type of vegetable oil that you have on hand.

When it comes to the vegetables for this Spanish braised oxtail recipe feel free to play as much as you like: from adding potatoes, more bell peppers, extra tomatoes, and onions, anything is possible.

Try as well our easy-to-make keto oxtail recipe, which is a delicious and healthy dish for those of you who are on a diet.

Lastly, if your pot doesn’t have a lid then you can prepare this roasted oxtail recipe by covering it with foil, just be extremely careful while removing it as a lot of steam will be released.

Tips on Serving Tender Oxtail Recipe

Once you finish preparing this delicious Spanish oxtails recipe you will have a fantastic Andalusian main dish ready to be served as the main dish for lunch or dinner.

To take the tender oxtail recipe to the next level while serving it, grate some parmesan cheese on top and let it melt to add that extra cheesy flavor.

This Spanish oxtail dish is already pretty filling, but you can do like the oxtail stew with potatoes and serve it with other cooked vegetables as the side (such as potatoes, pumpkin or sweet potatoes).

You can also sprinkle some fresh herbs on top of your tender oxtail, such as parsley, rosemary, dill, and cilantro.

If you are looking for more main dishes, then we invite you to check other of our beef oxtail recipes such as the oxtail noodle soup and the oxtail pasta recipe.

How to Store Tender Oxtail Recipe

For all the meal-prep fans out there we have great news: you can prepare the tender oxtail recipe and store it both in the fridge or freezer to enjoy later.

For that, you have to let the tender oxtail cool to room temperature and then place it in a freezer-safe airtight container, preferably it should have a lid to prevent spillage.

Then, you can store the oxtail in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 45 days and just reheat it in the oven once you are ready to serve.

If the smell, taste, or texture of the Spanish oxtail seems off then the best thing to do is to discard it instead of consuming it.

If you are looking for baked oxtail recipes that you can prepare ahead and store for later, then you should check our oven baked oxtail recipe and our braised oxtail.

Recipe Card: Tender Oxtail Recipe

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