Ingredients

  • 4 (2-inch thick) veal shanks
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup instant flour (recommended: Wondra)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup finely diced celery
  • 1/2 cup finely diced carrot
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 bouquet garni (bundle fresh parsley stems, peppercorns and bay leaf wrapped in cheesecloth)
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves
  • 1 pound pappardelle
  • Shaved Parmesan

Method

  • Season the veal shanks with salt and pepper and lightly dust each side with flour.
  • Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and brown the veal shanks on all sides.
  • Remove the browned veal shanks to a paper towel lined plate.
  • Add the onion, celery and carrots to the hot pan and cook the vegetables over a medium high heat until they are a golden brown, stirring occasionally so the vegetables do not stick to the bottom of the pan, about 6 minutes.
  • As the vegetables are browning add the garlic.
  • Once the vegetables have reached a golden color add the tomato paste and cook for 4 minutes.
  • Deglaze the pan using the white wine, being sure to scrape all of the brown bits off the bottom using a wooden spoon.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes, spices, and bouquet garni.
  • Add the veal shanks back to the pan and enough beef broth to come half way up the sides of the veal.
  • Cover with a lid and cook for about 3 hours, turning occasionally and adding more stock, as necessary, to keep the veal partially submerged, until the veal shanks are very tender and the meat is falling off of the bone.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Meanwhile, make the gremolata by combining the crushed garlic with the lemon zest and the chopped parsley.
  • Season with salt to taste.
  • Once the veal shanks are tender, remove the shanks from the cooking liquid and, when cool enough to handle, pull the meat from the bone and shred into small pieces.
  • Discard the bones and return the pulled meat to the sauce.
  • Taste and reseason the sauce, if necessary.
  • Cook the pappardelle in a large pot of salted, boiling water until al dente.
  • Serve the pappardelle with the ragu and garnish with the gremolata and the shaved Parmesan.