Caribbean Oxtail Stew

 Caribbean Oxtail Stew

You know it's a real traditional meal in the English-speaking Caribbean when you are presented with a dish of fragrant oxtail stew. The slow-cooked dish is always dense with flavor and "more-ish," meaning a second helping is the norm. Typically, it's seasoned with browning, a sauce prepared using a burned-sugar technique that imparts a hint of caramelized flavor

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS

3 tbsp. canola,corn, or vegetable oil
2 lb. oxtails, cut into 2″ pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. minced ginger
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 large yellow onions, chopped
1 small carrot, diced
1 rib celery, diced
2 tbsp. flour
4 cups beef stock
1 tbsp. whole allspice berries
4 sprigs thyme
2 habanero chiles
2 tbsp. light brown sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
4 scallions, roughly chopped
Cooked rice, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil in an 8-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat; season oxtails with salt and pepper. Add to pot; cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Add tomato paste, ginger, garlic, onions, carrot, and celery; cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add flour; cook until smooth, about 2 minutes. Return oxtails to pot with stock, allspice, thyme, and chiles; boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, until oxtails are tender, about 1½ hours.

2. Add sugar and Worcestershire to pot and cook until liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes. Garnish with scallions and serve with rice.