Oxtail Soup
Four hours of oxtail reduced to something almost black, thickened by nothing but its own gelatine. The best use of the cheapest cut there is.
Image note: Illustration, generated by AI · not a photograph of this dish
Method
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Dry the oxtail thoroughly and brown it hard in the dripping, in batches, 20 minutes in total. Set it aside.
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Cook the onion, carrot and celery in the same pot 12 minutes, until they take colour.
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Stir in the tomato purée and cook 2 minutes, then add the wine and let it reduce by half.
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Return the oxtail, add the stock, bay, thyme, peppercorns and salt, and bring to a bare simmer.
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Cover and cook 4 hours, until the meat falls from the bone.
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Lift out the oxtail, strip the meat and discard the bones. Strain the liquid and discard the vegetables.
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Chill the strained liquid 8 hours, then lift the set fat off the surface in one piece.
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Reheat the soup with the meat, add the sherry and Worcestershire sauce, and check the seasoning.
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Serve with parsley scattered over.
Chef’s Tips
- Brown in batches. A crowded pan steams the meat grey.
- Four hours. The gelatine only comes in the last one.
- Chill it overnight and lift the fat off in a disc.
Pairing Suggestions
- Crusty bread
- A glass of the sherry
- Nothing rich after
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerated for 4 days and better on the second. Freezes 3 months.
Common questions
How long does Oxtail Soup take to make?
About 4 hours 25 minutes of hands-on work — 25 minutes of preparation and 4 hours of cooking — plus 8 hours of chilling the soup so the fat sets and lifts off, so allow 12 hours 25 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Oxtail Soup?
Brown in batches. A crowded pan steams the meat grey. Four hours. The gelatine only comes in the last one. Chill it overnight and lift the fat off in a disc.
What should I serve with Oxtail Soup?
Crusty bread; A glass of the sherry; Nothing rich after.
Can Oxtail Soup be made ahead or frozen?
Refrigerated for 4 days and better on the second. Freezes 3 months.
Is Oxtail Soup suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, high-protein, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Oxtail Soup?
About 380 kcal per serving, with 38 g protein, 12 g carbohydrate and 19 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.