Raised Oxtail with Baked Onion and Lentils

A rich, slow-braised oxtail glazed in red wine and veal jus, paired with buttered lentils and sweet baked Roscoff onion. Designed for a large dinner party, it’s a show-stopping autumn/winter dish to impress guests and showcase serious cooking skills.

INGREDIENTS

     +    
Oxtail Base

16kg oxtail (cut into portions)

500ml vegetable oil

200g unsalted butter

2kg peeled button onions

3kg donkey carrots, peeled & thickly sliced on the angle

2 heads celery, cut into large pieces

3kg onions, quartered (approx. 1.5kg)

1.5kg peeled shallots, quartered

750g smoked bacon, cut into rough pieces

3 bulbs garlic, split (approx. 200g)

4L red wine

4L chicken stock (white)

4L veal stock

30g thyme

6 bay leaves

50g parsley leaf

30g dried ceps

24g coarse sea salt

20g crushed black pepper

300g plain flour

20g caster sugar

     +    
Button Onions

2kg button onions (peeled)

100ml vegetable oil

50g butter

12g thyme

2 bay leaves

8g Demerara sugar

4g salt

     +    
Lentils (Base Cook) – yields 4.8kg (32 portions @ 150g)

800g dried lentils (soaked overnight)

8L cold water

8 carrots, halved

4 onions, quartered

8 banana shallots, halved

6 celery sticks, halved

20g thyme

6 bay leaves

12 garlic cloves, halved

20g parsley (leaf & stalks)

150g smoked bacon trim / skin

14g salt

     +    
Finishing Lentils (for service – 32 portions)

600g diced shallots (3mm)

1kg finely diced onions

30g garlic, finely chopped

25g thyme, chopped

6 bay leaves

800g carrot, finely diced (2mm)

600g celery, finely diced (2mm)

250ml veg oil

130g butter

12g salt

3g crushed black pepper

100ml balsamic crema

2L reduced oxtail stock

1L lentil stock

     +    
Baked Roscoff Onions (24 portions)

12 large Roscoff onions (skin on)

100ml olive oil

20g Demerara sugar

4g Maldon salt

Method

     +    
Oxtail Base

Season oxtail generously with salt & pepper, then coat in flour (reserve excess).

Heat bratt pan to medium, add 300ml oil + 100g butter. Brown oxtail evenly on all sides (approx. 15 mins). Remove and set aside.

Add remaining oil & butter, then bacon, carrots, celery. Cook 12–14 mins until golden.

Add onions, shallots, garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme. Cook 15 mins until caramelised. Drain fat.

Stir in reserved flour, cook 1 min. Add dried ceps, red wine, chicken & veal stocks. Bring to gentle simmer, skimming as needed.

Transfer to deep gastro tray (or continue in bratt pan). Add browned oxtail. Cook at 170°C for 2 hours or simmer gently until tender.

Remove oxtail, chill rapidly, then bag pieces individually (or 2 per bag if smaller).

Pass cooking liquor through colander (pressing vegetables), then twice through a fine sieve. Reduce by one-third. Skim continuously. Thicken lightly with cornflour slurry if required.

     +    
Button Onions

Heat oil in pan, add butter. When nut brown, add onions, thyme, bay, salt.

Sauté 5–8 mins until coloured. Add sugar, caramelise gently until golden.

Drain onto perforated tray. Cover with some oxtail jus and simmer 15 mins until tender. Chill.

     +    
Lentils (Base Cook) – yields 4.8kg (32 portions @ 150g)

Simmer lentils in 8L water, skimming scum. Drain & rinse.

Refill with 4L water, add vegetables, herbs & bacon. Simmer 40–60 mins until tender.

Add salt. Cool lentils in cooking liquor with vegetables (leave overnight for flavour absorption).

     +    
Finishing Lentils (for service – 32 portions)

Heat veg oil & butter, sauté carrot, celery, thyme, ½ salt, 8–12 mins until just golden.

Add shallots, onions, garlic, remaining salt & pepper. Cook 8–12 mins until golden.

Add vinegar, oxtail stock & lentil stock. Reduce to correct consistency.

Chill quickly until service.

     +    
Baked Roscoff Onions (24 portions)

Roll onions in oil, sugar & salt. Bake at 180°C for 25–35 mins until just cooked. Cool.

Halve. For service: sprinkle with Demerara & Maldon, reheat in oven. (½ onion per portion).

     +    
Assembly

Reheat oxtail in bag, glaze in pan with sauce until sticky.

Warm lentils, finish with chopped parsley & seasoning.

Plate: lentils in base of bowl, glazed oxtail on top, Roscoff onion on the side. Spoon over sauce.

Raised Oxtail with Baked Onion and Lentils

A rich, slow-braised oxtail glazed in red wine and veal jus, paired with buttered lentils and sweet baked Roscoff onion. Designed for a large dinner party, it’s a show-stopping autumn/winter dish to impress guests and showcase serious cooking skills.

INGREDIENTS

   +  &nbsp
Oxtail Base

16kg oxtail (cut into portions)

500ml vegetable oil

200g unsalted butter

2kg peeled button onions

3kg donkey carrots, peeled & thickly sliced on the angle

2 heads celery, cut into large pieces

3kg onions, quartered (approx. 1.5kg)

1.5kg peeled shallots, quartered

750g smoked bacon, cut into rough pieces

3 bulbs garlic, split (approx. 200g)

4L red wine

4L chicken stock (white)

4L veal stock

30g thyme

6 bay leaves

50g parsley leaf

30g dried ceps

24g coarse sea salt

20g crushed black pepper

300g plain flour

20g caster sugar

   +   
Button Onions

2kg button onions (peeled)

100ml vegetable oil

50g butter

12g thyme

2 bay leaves

8g Demerara sugar

4g salt

   +   
Lentils (Base Cook) – yields 4.8kg (32 portions @ 150g)

800g dried lentils (soaked overnight)

8L cold water

8 carrots, halved

4 onions, quartered

8 banana shallots, halved

6 celery sticks, halved

20g thyme

6 bay leaves

12 garlic cloves, halved

20g parsley (leaf & stalks)

150g smoked bacon trim / skin

14g salt

   +  &nbsp
Finishing Lentils (for service – 32 portions)

600g diced shallots (3mm)

1kg finely diced onions

30g garlic, finely chopped

25g thyme, chopped

6 bay leaves

800g carrot, finely diced (2mm)

600g celery, finely diced (2mm)

250ml veg oil

130g butter

12g salt

3g crushed black pepper

100ml balsamic crema

2L reduced oxtail stock

1L lentil stock

   +   
Baked Roscoff Onions (24 portions)

12 large Roscoff onions (skin on)

100ml olive oil

20g Demerara sugar

4g Maldon salt

Method

   +   
Oxtail Base

Season oxtail generously with salt & pepper, then coat in flour (reserve excess).

Heat bratt pan to medium, add 300ml oil + 100g butter. Brown oxtail evenly on all sides (approx. 15 mins). Remove and set aside.

Add remaining oil & butter, then bacon, carrots, celery. Cook 12–14 mins until golden.

Add onions, shallots, garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme. Cook 15 mins until caramelised. Drain fat.

Stir in reserved flour, cook 1 min. Add dried ceps, red wine, chicken & veal stocks. Bring to gentle simmer, skimming as needed.

Transfer to deep gastro tray (or continue in bratt pan). Add browned oxtail. Cook at 170°C for 2 hours or simmer gently until tender.

Remove oxtail, chill rapidly, then bag pieces individually (or 2 per bag if smaller).

Pass cooking liquor through colander (pressing vegetables), then twice through a fine sieve. Reduce by one-third. Skim continuously. Thicken lightly with cornflour slurry if required.

   +   
Button Onions

Heat oil in pan, add butter. When nut brown, add onions, thyme, bay, salt.

Sauté 5–8 mins until coloured. Add sugar, caramelise gently until golden.

Drain onto perforated tray. Cover with some oxtail jus and simmer 15 mins until tender. Chill.

   +   
Lentils (Base Cook) – yields 4.8kg (32 portions @ 150g)

Simmer lentils in 8L water, skimming scum. Drain & rinse.

Refill with 4L water, add vegetables, herbs & bacon. Simmer 40–60 mins until tender.

Add salt. Cool lentils in cooking liquor with vegetables (leave overnight for flavour absorption).

   +   
Finishing Lentils (for service – 32 portions)

Heat veg oil & butter, sauté carrot, celery, thyme, ½ salt, 8–12 mins until just golden.

Add shallots, onions, garlic, remaining salt & pepper. Cook 8–12 mins until golden.

Add vinegar, oxtail stock & lentil stock. Reduce to correct consistency.

Chill quickly until service.

   +   
Baked Roscoff Onions (24 portions)

Roll onions in oil, sugar & salt. Bake at 180°C for 25–35 mins until just cooked. Cool.

Halve. For service: sprinkle with Demerara & Maldon, reheat in oven. (½ onion per portion).

   +   
Assembly

Reheat oxtail in bag, glaze in pan with sauce until sticky.

Warm lentils, finish with chopped parsley & seasoning.

Plate: lentils in base of bowl, glazed oxtail on top, Roscoff onion on the side. Spoon over sauce.

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