Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (2024)

There's nothing like a bowl of Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup to warm your heart on a winter's day. As hearty as Korean oxtail soup or Hawaiian Oxtail soup, this soup isn't just broth it's a meal!

There are so many different ways to make oxtail soup, including instant pot oxtail soup or a slow cooker oxtail soup.

Some cultures make their own version like Korean oxtail soup, Hawaiian oxtail soup, Chinese Oxtail soup, and Jamaican oxtail soup.

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (1)

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  • Cultural Differences between the Types of Oxtail Soup
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  • Is Oxtail Soup Really Made from Oxtail?
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions for the Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup on Stovetop
  • Instructions for Instant Pot Oxtail Soup
  • Instructions for the Slow Cooker Oxtail Recipe
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Equipment
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  • Storage
  • Food Safety
  • More Soup Ideas
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  • Recipe Details
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Soup is always enjoyed in the colder months and this Oxtail Soup is no exception. But don't let that stop you from making it any time of the year.

Cultural Differences between the Types of Oxtail Soup

As mentioned previously, different cultures put different ingredients in their version of oxtail soup. Here are the differences between cultures:

Korean Oxtail Soup

Korean's love their root vegetables. A Korean oxtail soup uses use root vegetables like daicon which is a korean radish. They also use soy and hot pepper to bring on the heat.

Hawaiian Oxtail Soup

Hawaiian's add ingredients like anise, ginger, peanuts, kai choy and green onions to create a flavor profile that's unique.

Chinese Oxtail Soup

Chinese oxtail soup contain ingredients like bay leaves and thyme. They'll also add noodles and sometime forgo the root vegetables all together.

Jamaican Oxtail Soup

A Jamaican oxtail soup usually contains ingredients that are sweet and savory like brown sugar and soy sauce. They will also contain spices like all spice. In addition to spices, they will also use browning which is slightly bitter and caramel in color to bring color to the dish.

This recipe for oxtail soup was inspired by my recipe for braised veal shanks which is a similar cut of meat but comes from the leg of a cow as opposed to the tail.

Serve this dish as an appetizer followed by Pasta with Broccoli, Baked Eggplant Parmigiana, or Avocado Toast with Tomato.

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Is Oxtail Soup Really Made from Oxtail?

In the old days oxtail came from the meat of the Oxen. What's an Ox? Well to put it simple both an ox and a cow are both bovine animals. Ox are usually draft animals which are used in heavy lifting as opposed to cows that are used to produce milk.

In short, oxtail comes from the meat of a cow. So don't go crazy looking for "ox" meat products.

Ingredients

For this basic slow cooked oxtail soup recipe, the following ingredients were used:

  • Oxtail(cow's tail)
  • Red Onion
  • Yellow Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Celery Stalks
  • Bay leaves
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Dry white wine
  • Salt & pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Beef stock
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Garlic
  • Green onion
  • Cooked rice (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for the Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup on Stovetop

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (2)

Drizzle worcestershire sauce over oxtail and let sit for 5 minutes.

Heat olive oil and butter in a medium pan. Brown oxtail on both sides. Set aside.

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (3)

Deglaze pot with white wine, add garlic, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes and onion and cook until the onion is translucent. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer contents to a stock pot large enough to hold 4 to 6 cups of liquid.

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (4)

Add oxtail to stock pot and add potatoes, carrots, bay leaves and beef stock.

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (5)

If oxtail is not submerged in broth add water so that the liquid just slightly covers meat.

Bring to a gentle boil and continue to simmer gently for about 2 hours or until the meat is fork tender.

Hint: Remember to skim in fat residue that floats to the surface of your soup using a spoon or a mini strainer.

Instructions for Instant Pot Oxtail Soup

This recipe for Oxtail soup can easily be converted to Instant Pot Oxtail soup. Once you have browned your oxtail pieces and sauteed your vegetables, place them in your instant pot or pressure cooker with the broth and seasoning and cook on high for 45 minutes.

Instructions for the Slow Cooker Oxtail Recipe

If you have a slow cooker or can set your pressure cooker to slow cook, place the browned oxtail pieces, sauteed vegetables, broth and seasoning in the cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours until fork tender.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few ideas on how you can make this dish different or fit a certain diet:

  • Legumes - add legumes like beans
  • Rice - add cooked rice, noodles or couscous if your are looking for some starch
  • Corn - add a crunchy bite by including corn niblets
  • Greens - add greens for extra anti-oxidants like baby spinach, broccoli or bok choy.

If you know how to make this recipe unique or suit your diet - go for it! Let me know what you did and how it turned out by leaving me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Equipment

Depending on the method you choose to make this recipe for oxtail soup, you'll need a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a frypan and/or a large pot for the stove top.

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Storage

This slow cooked oxtail soup is like any other soup where the longer it sits, the more the flavor infuses into the broth. Store unused portions in an airtight container refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.

If you don't think that you will consume leftover soup, place it in an air tight container in the freezer. Consume within a month to avoid that dreaded freezer burn.

Food Safety

Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.

Remember to:

  • Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.

More Soup Ideas

  • Homemade Sweet Corn Chicken Soup
  • Italian Wedding Egg Drop Soup
  • Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
  • Lentil and Carrot Soup

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Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (10)

Recipe Details

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (11)

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe

AmyG

There's nothing like a bowl of Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup to warm your heart on a winter's day. As hearty as Korean oxtail soup or Hawaiian Oxtail soup, this soup isn't just broth it's a meal!

There are so many different ways to make oxtail soup, including instant pot oxtail soup or a slow cooker oxtail soup.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Course Main Entrées

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4 People

Calories 765 kcal

Ingredients

  • 700 grams Oxtail (cow's tail)
  • 1 small Red Onion chopped
  • 2 small Yellow Potatoes chopped
  • 3 small Carrots
  • 2 each Celery Stalks
  • 2 each Bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup Dry white wine
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground pepper
  • 3 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 4 cups Beef stock
  • 45 grams Cherry tomatoes (you can use regular tomatoes too)
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • ½ cup green onion, sliced (garnish, optional)
  • 1 cup Cooked rice optional

Instructions

  • Drizzle worcestershire sauce over oxtail and let sit for 5 minutes.

  • Heat olive oil and butter in a medium pan. Brown oxtail on both sides. Set aside.

  • Deglaze pot with white wine, add garlic, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes and onion and cook until the onion is translucent. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Transfer contents to a stock pot large enough to hold 4 to 6 cups of liquid.

  • Add oxtail to stock pot and add potatoes, carrots, bay leaves and beef stock.

  • If oxtail is not submerged in broth add water so that the liquid just slightly covers meat.

  • Bring to a gentle boil, cover and continue to simmer gently for about 2 hours or until the meat is fork tender.

Notes

Fatty Residue

Because oxtail is a slightly fattier cut of meat, you will get some fat residue that floats to the top of your stew.

Skim the fat with a spoon or use a small strainer to skim the fat off the surface.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cupsCalories: 765kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 63gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 200mgSodium: 1567mgPotassium: 1135mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 6575IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 10mg

Keyword braised, hearty winter meal, oxtail, soup, winter

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Slow Cooked Oxtail Soup Recipe - Hearty and Full of Flavor (2024)

FAQs

What makes oxtail taste good? ›

Jamaican oxtail is very special due to the infusion of flavors that make this dish come alive. Braised in fresh herbs & spices such as thyme, scallion, scotch bonnet, allspice, and sometimes ginger, this dish is a labor of love that is totally worth it in the end.

Does oxtail get softer the longer you cook it? ›

Fortunately, you can tenderize the meat by boiling or braising it for several hours.

What flavour is oxtail soup? ›

Like its Western soupy counterpart it features diced oxtail in a clear but rich beef broth, chopped carrots, celery and potato, but with signature Asian flavours of ginger, coriander, lime and chilies as well.

Why do my oxtails taste bitter? ›

OK, so if you find that your brown stew 'oxtail' dish has a more bitter taste, this is more than likely due to using too much browning sauce. No worries---you can fix this! Simply break up the bitter taste with a bit of ketchup, brown sugar, and additional stock. This should help!

How long should I boil oxtail? ›

Fill with enough water to cover oxtails and place over high heat. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook oxtails until tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Why do you soak oxtail before cooking? ›

By soaking and blanching the oxtail before cooking any impurities are removed. To cook: Oxtail requires long, slow cooking to produce tender, succulent meat.

Can you overcook oxtail in a slow cooker? ›

If you cook meat at too high of a temperature in your slow cooker, you're likely to overcook it. When you cook your food slowly at a lower temperature, you unlock the magic of slow cooking. Some of the best cuts of meat for slow cookers are tougher cuts like chuck roast or oxtail.

Should I brown oxtails before cooking? ›

How do I prepare it? The oxtail should be cut into round portions. Simply brown the meat on both sides over a high heat before transferring to the stewing pot. It's best to start cooking the day before serving.

Do you have to cut fat off oxtail before cooking? ›

Much like the other cooking methods, you want to trim off any excess fat, brown the outside, and deglaze any leftover bits from the browning process. This time, use wine to deglaze the pan and sauté onions, celery, carrots, and garlic.

What is special about oxtail soup? ›

Oxtail tastes like beef, but more specifically, like a more tender, silkier short rib in terms of texture. In fact, oxtail is often used on its own to make stock because it's such a gelatinous, rich meat. It is believed that this oxtail soup recipe was created in the 1700s in London by French and Flemish immigrants.

Is oxtail soup healthy? ›

Oxtail is rich in Collagen, a vital protein for our body's growth and repair. Oxtail is high in fat so an ideal energy source for a Ketogenic, Paleo, or Carnivore Diet. With over 70% fat, Oxtail is Ideal for anyone on a high fat / low carb or no-carb diet. Oxtail must be slow-cooked to break down the connective tissue.

What nationality eats oxtail soup? ›

Different versions of oxtail soup exist: an ethnic dish of the American South which traces its lineage back to the pre-revolutionary war era; Korean; Chinese; a fried/barbecued oxtail combined with soup variation which is a popular dish in Indonesia where it is called as sop buntut; and a thick, rich, gravy-like soup ...

Why do Jamaicans eat oxtail? ›

The History and Tradition of Jamaican Oxtail

The origin of stews like oxtail can be traced back to our colonial heritage. Enslaved Africans on plantations were given very meager amounts of protein and often had to make do with cheaper cuts of meat or ends of slaughtered animals to add protein to their diets.

Is oxtail healthy to eat? ›

Oxtail Nutritional Profile

Contains monounsaturated fats, reducing bad cholesterol levels and supporting cell development. A good source of iron, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus, supporting blood cell production, immune function, antioxidant activity, and bone health.

What neutralizes bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

What is the best way to eat oxtail? ›

This is definitely a dish to enjoy in a casual setting, since the best way to eat oxtail is to hold the bones in your fingers and chew on them until every particle of meat has been consumed.

How do you take the bitterness out of oxtail? ›

In a large bowl filled halfway with cold water along with the oxtail add 1/4 salt, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 3 lemon & limes cut in half. Soak them for 15-30 minutes undisturbed then scrub each one of them with the lemon or limes. Pour the water out and discard the lemon & limes.

What is special about oxtail? ›

Oxtail is rich in Collagen, a vital protein for our body's growth and repair. Oxtail is high in fat so an ideal energy source for a Ketogenic, Paleo, or Carnivore Diet. With over 70% fat, Oxtail is Ideal for anyone on a high fat / low carb or no-carb diet. Oxtail must be slow-cooked to break down the connective tissue.

Is oxtail a healthy meat to eat? ›

Oxtail is a treasure trove of essential minerals. It's rich in iron, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, while zinc plays a crucial role in immune function. Selenium, on the other hand, acts as an antioxidant, and phosphorus is necessary for bone health.

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