What Does Oxtail Taste Like?

What does oxtail taste like? Many people suspect the flavor of oxtail because of its look. Some people say that it does not have an eye-catching appearance that makes them not want to eat it. However, you may be surprised by its actual flavor.

Oxtail is widely used in many slow-cooked recipes of various countries all over the world. Besides the satisfying taste and texture, it is also a great source of collagen. Stick around to explore more exciting information about oxtail and its distinct flavor.

Don’t let you wait any longer. Let’s jump right into the article!

What Exactly Is Oxtail? Let’s Get To Know About It!

Oxtail usually features the ox’s tail, but it also refers to the tail of cattle, such as veal and cow. Because the tail is narrow towards the end, you can find oxtail in many different sizes. The store-bought oxtail is always skinned and cut, so it is easier for you to prepare and cook.

While the oxtail may sound strange to you, it appears in many Jamaican, Korean, Indonesian, Chinese, and Italian popular dishes. People from these countries bring oxtail to the U.S, and it has been adopted and used in some tasty dishes here.⁽¹⁾

Nowadays, you have to buy oxtail at a pretty high price due to its availability. When you eat it in restaurants, the price is even much higher as it takes lots of time and effort to prepare and cook.

You Won’t Be Able To Resist Oxtail Once Trying It!

Although the oxtail’s appearance might not be too attractive, its alluring taste is more than enough to captivate many people’s hearts. Oxtail has a rich and intense flavor that resembles beef and short rib.

Also, the oxtail is more tender and silkier than beef and short rib that will satisfy your taste buds when being cooked.

Its robust flavor comes from the bones and marrow. When you cook oxtail, the rich fat loaded in marrow melts and makes the meat taste nutty and buttery. As it does not contain much meat, people tend to simmer it and make delicious beef stock to use in other recipes.

Oxtail is also a great source of nutrients. It is packed with vitamins, such as vitamin A and vitamin K, and other essential minerals that bring you many health advantages. There is also a high level of gelatin loaded in oxtail, which makes it a must-eat food. ⁽²⁾

Ultimate Guide On How To Prepare Oxtail

Because oxtail is one of the greasiest parts of cattle, you should clean it well to excess the grease before cooking it. But first, let’s learn how to cut it. Oxtail contains connective tissue and bone, do not try to pull off the meat when it is raw. It is almost impossible.

• Step 1: You should keep its bones and cut the oxtail into small pieces at the connective bones.
• Step 2: After cutting oxtail, you should trim it in cold water with lemon juice, salt, and vinegar to remove the impurities and grease. Make sure the oxtail is wholly submerged in water.
• Step 3: You can repeat doing it until the water is clean and rewash it with water only.

Note: Do not mind about the bones. When oxtail is cooked well, it becomes incredibly tender, and the meat will fall off the bones itself.

You can clean oxtail easier with this detailed guide.

How Do People Usually Cook Oxtail?

The most popular way to cook oxtail is slow-cooking it to make stew, soup, and braised dishes. To make the broth taste bolder and more intense, people cook oxtail with cooking wine or red wine instead of water.

The bones add the unique umami flavor to any dish that calls for oxtail. The stock is also denser due to the high amount of gelatin concluded in oxtail.

The oxtail recipes are also versatile. Take oxtail soup as an example. You can find various versions of oxtail soup and stew all over the world, including kkori gomtang (Korean oxtail soup), Niu Wei tang (Chinese oxtail soup), Jamaican oxtail stew with butter bean, and so on.

Also, you can rub it with other aromatic herbs and spices to make it tastier, such as garlic powder, black peppers, salt, parsley, coriander, and dill.

To balance the whole dish, you can add your favorite vegetables to cook with oxtail. The oxtail soup, stew, or braised oxtail are usually served with warm cooked white rice or some slices of bread.

If you stick to a balanced diet, you can also swap those slow metabolism carbs with mashed potatoes or salads.

Enjoy Oxtail With These Mouth-Watering Recipes

After understanding more about oxtail, do you need some oxtail recipes to try? Although you have to spend a long time cooking it, the final result will be worth your spending! Below are some mouth-watering recipes that call for oxtail. Let’s choose your favorite one and try it!

1. Oxtail Soup

Slow-cooking is the best way to cook oxtail since all the meat is succulent tender that falls off the bones and absorbs the flavor of all the ingredients it is cooked with. Also, the soup is very rich, luscious, and flavor-dense by being cooked for a long time.

You can add any vegetable that you are fond of to this soup. Moreover, this oxtail soup needs to be added with aromatic spices and herbs to enhance its fragrance and flavor. Remember to prepare cooked rice or bread to eat with the soup.

The plus point of oxtail soup is that you cook it in advance and refrigerate it for eating later. The chilled oxtail soup even tastes more and more delicious each time you reheat it. If this soup is too oily for you, you can spoon off the extra fat at the top of it.

Go to get some oxtail and make this satisfying oxtail soup to serve your beloved ones.

2. Chinese Braised Oxtail

Do not miss this flavorful braised oxtail if you are a massive fan of traditional Chinese braised pork. Unlike other stews and soups, Chinese people tend to cook off the liquid to make the oxtail absorb all of the ingredients’ flavor well.

The main ingredient that makes this Chinese braised oxtail stand out is the soy sauce, as it makes the oxtail taste more intense and adds a delicious brown color to it.

This Chinese braised oxtail is very sticky with warm cooked rice. Since it takes a lot of time to cook and the price of oxtail is not low, people only make this braised oxtail on special holidays or family reunions.

3. Vietnamese Oxtail Pho

Maybe Pho is not strange to you. It is one of the traditional Vietnamese dishes. Pho is a noodle soup with a flavorful broth that is cooked with oxtail and a large number of aromatic spices and ingredients.

It also takes you under 2 hours to cook by an instant pot. However, because of the versatile ingredients, you have to prepare well. You can find Vietnamese seasonings in any Asian market.

The oxtail cooked with Pho broth is surprisingly tender, and it tastes beautiful. Once eating, you will not be able to resist it.

Here is the precise way to make the perfect Vietnamese oxtail Pho from a Vietnamese guy!

4. Oxtail Curry

Like the famous chicken curry, oxtail curry is also a type of coconut milk-based curry dense and thick in flavor. The oxtail is slow-cooked and simmered in the flavorful curry sauce until tender.

This recipe also requires a lot of spices and seasonings that are pungent and aromatic. If you do not have a slow cooker or pressure cooker, you can use the instant pot instead,  which will not affect the result.

Oxtail curry tastes good on cooked rice or bread. You can also eat it with tortillas or Indian naans (Italian flatbread made from wheat dough).

5. Rabo Encendido (Cuban Spicy Oxtail Stew)

Rabo Encendido is the spicy oxtail stew that is usually eaten in Cuba. The ingredients are diverse, and the hot spices are indispensable. As being slow-cooked, the oxtail is fall-off-the-bone tender and delicious.

You can also make it for meal prep and store it in the freezer to eat later. This fiery stew is perfect for eating in the cold season with your family.

People prefer serving it with mashed potato or cooked rice. Both eating ways are mouth-watering and irresistible. But you can pair it with other foods to suit your preference.

You won’t regret trying this delicious Cuban spicy oxtail stew!

How Long Is Oxtail At Its Best Quality?

You can store the oxtail by refrigerating and freezing methods. It can keep the best flavor and texture for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Also, you can retain the oxtail’s quality for up to a year in the freezer.

To further extend its shelf life, you should wrap it tightly with a plastic bag or place it in an airtight container.

FAQs

After reading all of the information about oxtail and its flavor above, you may have some questions. I have answered some questions that are usually asked below. You can take a look to see whether my answers suit your confusion or not.

Let’s Give Oxtail A Try And Share Your Feelings!

Will you give oxtail a try after reading my post? Although there are not too many ways to cook oxtail, its accompaniments are diverse. It tastes good with any vegetables and various seasonings.

However, oxtail is packed with a high level of cholesterol that may cause stroke when overeating. Therefore, you should eat oxtail in moderation.

If the information provided in the sections above is valuable and fascinating, do not forget to like and share this with your friend or family. By the way, share with me your delicious oxtail dish in the comment section below.

References

1. En.wikipedia.org.. Oxtail – Wikipedia.
2. drhealthbenefits.com