What To Serve With Osso Buco? [12 Side Dishes]

In Italian cuisine, osso buco is a classic dish prepared using veal shanks pressure-cooked in wine, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth.

Generally, it is decorated with Gremolata (prepared with sliced parsley, lemon zest, and shredded garlic). Because of the meat, this dish is a heavy meal, but it can be served with some light side dishes to savor the taste even better.

What To Serve With Osso Buco

Osso buco is known for its rich and big flavor, so it pairs well with several creamy side dishes. You can serve osso buco with saffron risotto, spaghetti, mashed potatoes, stuffed tomatoes, stuffed artichokes, creamy polenta, garlic mushrooms, and many more. 

You can get to know about the best sides that taste better when eaten alongside osso buco.  

Top 12 Side Dishes To Serve With Osso Buco 

Here are some of the best and most tasty light side dishes that go well with osso buco. What makes these side dishes even better is that they do not dominate the taste of osso buco but pair well with this main dish.  

1. Risotto Milanese 

If you want to pair osso buco with an Italian side dish, then risotto Milanese it is. You can prepare this dish using rice, broth, or water, sauteed onions, butter, and salt + pepper seasoning.

Cook all these ingredients in a pot, add cheese and let it melt. It tastes better when eaten with osso buco since they contain compatible spices like cinnamon and paprika. 

2. Mashed Potatoes 

Another simple and easy dish is mashed potatoes. You can serve this side dish with delicious braised veal shanks.

The garlic mashed potatoes recipe is a far better choice than complements the taste of osso buco. Roast the garlic in the oven until it gets a buttery texture, and mix it with mashed potatoes. 

Read also our article on What To Serve With Coconut Shrimp

3. Parmigiano And Salami Flatbreads 

You can savor osso buco with delicious Parmigiano-Reggiano and salami flatbreads along with a sip of wine. The crispy texture of the flatbread with melted cheese and flavorful salami is a great way to impress kids and older people equally. 

4. Cauliflower Gratin 

Although Osso Bucco is a tasty recipe, some accompanying side dishes can be dull. Cauliflower Gratin is a great side dish with a rich flavor that pairs well with osso buco. You can also prepare it ahead of time.

Furthermore, this gratin simply calls for eight ingredients, all of which are commonly available. This dish possesses a great cheesy sauce, and the cauliflower absorbs delicious flavors, making it an incredible side dish for osso buco.

5. Cacio E Pepe Pasta 

If you are a fan of Italian cuisine and can’t seem to get enough of it, this dish can be your next favorite. The cheesy cacio e pepe pasta means cheese and pepper spaghetti, which also tastes well with osso buco. You can make this delightful dish easily. 

Read also our article on What To Serve With Mushroom Risotto

6. Sweet Panzanella 

Another side dish you can serve with Osso buco that can make guests eat fully is sweet Panzanella.

All you need to prepare this dish are sweet and totally ripe tomatoes, garlic-toasted bread cubes, and fresh basil. All the fluids combine in this salad, and you can dress it with olive oil and vinegar to create a tasty and flavorful recipe. 

7. Creamy Polenta 

Here is another best recipe, which you can prepare within minutes. All you have to do is cook polenta in water, combine it with heavy cream or butter, or both.

In Northern Italy, polenta is relatively common and frequently served with delicious meats. In short, this creamy-textured dish prepared from cornmeal is very easy to make even by beginners. 

8. Crispy Garlic Mushrooms

Mushrooms and meat pair well. Garlic sauteed mushrooms is a savory side dish different from the usual mushy mushrooms. It has a crispy texture, making it the perfect complement to any traditional Italian meal, including osso buco.

The crispy garlic mushrooms have a buttery flavor and a great texture. In addition, mushrooms are loaded with more flavors in each bite and retain a crispy outside layer. 

Read also our article on What To Serve With Beer Can Chicken

9. Stuffed Tomatoes 

You can serve stuffed tomatoes with goat cheese as an excellent complement to osso buco for an exquisite yet simple meal. The filling in these super-healthy and tasty sides will keep you full without increasing your carbohydrate intake. This recipe is so easy to make that it will be a success even if it is your first time preparing it. 

10. Tomato Tart

Do you like to include tomatoes in your diet? In that case, here is another tomato-based dish you can serve with osso buco or other Italian dishes. You may even make it ahead of time to make things quick while serving them later.

When you bake this dish upside down in a skillet, you can save time by using frozen puff pastry. As a result, the tomatoes will have a caramelized flavor on top, making them a delicious side dish.  

11. Green Beans Almondine

Green beans almondine is one of the best side dishes to serve with osso buco. You need to lightly saute the green beans and toss them in butter until they turn golden brown. After that, you can top it with almonds and crispy bacon.

This zesty vegetable enhances the flavor and texture of any dish. Almonds have a salty flavor and a nutty texture that goes well with delicious meats, particularly recipes like osso buco. 

12. Stuffed Artichokes 

You can make stuffed artichokes to eat with osso buco for a remarkable taste. These stuffed artichokes are filled with breadcrumbs and seasoned with tasty seasonings.

While the osso buco braises, they will cook on the stove, producing a delicious aroma that makes you drool. 

Read our article on What To Serve With Chicken Pitas

How To Prepare Osso Buco 

There are several cooking methods you can use to make the osso buco dish. Here is the best recipe with the ideal cooking method to make delicious osso buco. 

Ingredient List

• Veal shanks (1 lb) 
• Chicken bouillon (2 cubes) 
• Dry white wine (1 ½ cup) 
• Water (1 cup) 
• Chopped tomatoes (14.5 oz) 
• Tomato paste (3 tablespoons) 
• Minced garlic 
• Fresh parsley 
• 1 onion and carrot 
• Olive oil and fresh thyme (2 tablespoons) 
• Salt (¼ teaspoon) 

Step By Step Instructions

1. Season the veal shanks using salt, pour the olive oil into a huge skillet and heat it. 
2. Cook the veal shanks on high heat for around 2 minutes and rotate it until both sides turn golden brown. Then, transfer the veal to a serving platter.
3. Put chopped onion, garlic, and carrots in the same skillet—cook for a few minutes over medium heat.
4. Pour water and white wine, then the chicken bouillon cubes, and stir them together over high heat until the chicken bouillon cubes soften. 
5. Put the sliced tomatoes, tomato paste, and fresh thyme in the skillet. Then mix them together. 
6. Put veal shanks in the skillet. If you want to keep them together, then take a kitchen string to tie each veal shank. Keep in mind that it is not mandatory.
7. Ensure that the veal shanks are submerged in the sauce and touch the skillet’s bottom. If you have placed them correctly, the liquid will bubble up the sides of the veal shank. 
8. Put two huge entire rosemary sprigs around the veal shanks and dip them in the sauce. Keep them whole as you can remove them afterward. Place the lid on top. 
9. Cook for 2 hours and monitor occasionally to check if the heat is low enough, if the liquid is evaporating too much, and the veal’s suppleness. 
10. You have to decrease the quantity of the liquid. For that, turn up the heat, so the sauce thickens and lessens.
11. If necessary, add salt. Garnish the veal with parsley and garlic. 

Read our article on What To Serve With Bruschetta Appetizer

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Which Wine Pairing Suits Osso Buco? 

Osso buco contains numerous flavors, which is why it is best to pair this dish with big red wines that have bold flavors. For example, Barolo is an Italian red wine that has a rich flavor with strong acidity and tannins. Other wines you can pair with Osso Bucco are Brunello, California wines like Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and more. 

Can Osso Buco Be Cooked Ahead Of Time? 

Yes, you can prepare osso buco ahead of time and store it in the fridge for about 3 days. When you want to eat it, take it out from the refrigerator and put it in the pan to reheat. 

How To Make Gremolata For Osso Buco?

Gremolata is used to garnish osso buco, which is primarily made from freshly sliced parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. Mix ½ cup chopped parsley, 4 diced garlic cloves, and two tablespoons of lemon zest. Then stir these ingredients in order to prepare the Gremolata. 

Conclusion 

Now that you know how to make the best osso buco and the side dishes that go well with it, you can serve this dish with the best sides.

All the side dishes we have mentioned complement the taste of osso buco without monopolizing its flavor. 

Prepare the best side dish as per your choice and enjoy it with delicious osso buco.