This delicious Oxtail Soup is a warm and comforting soup ideal for cooler weather. With a complex flavor and unique texture, it's easy to see why so many people love this nourishing comfort food!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
This oxtail recipe is hearty and delicious, making it a real crowd-pleaser. The rich broth, made with flavorful oxtail, onions, vegetable, spices, and garlic, is slow-cooked until it's thick and creamy. The combination of beef bones and vegetables creates savory flavors that are truly special.
The slow-cooking process of oxtail soup enhances its flavor and makes it even more satisfying. Not only do the beef bones and vegetables create a delicious broth, but they also help to tenderize the oxtail, creating a succulent, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
This will truly become one of your favorite recipes!
💭 What kind of meat is oxtail?
Oxtail is a type of meat derived from the tail of a cow. It is a tougher cut of beef due to the muscles used to swish the tail back and forth. Oxtail is popular in many cultures, including African, Caribbean, and Latin American cuisine.
👩🍳 Is oxtail soup healthy?
Oxtail soup is a hearty and nutritious meal that has many health benefits. This high-protein soup is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc, which are both important for a healthy immune system.
Oxtail is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health. Oxtail soup is high in collagen because it contains a lot of connective tissue, which breaks down during the long and slow cooking process.
Collage helps promote healthy skin, hair, and joints. All in all, this oxtail soup recipe is a nutritious and satisfying meal that provides many health benefits.
💭 What does oxtail soup taste like?
Oxtail soup is a hearty and flavorful dish with a rich, meaty taste. It typically has a deep, beefy flavor that is enhanced by adding vegetables such as onions, carrots, and spinach. The oxtail is slow-cooked, allowing it to become tender and the broth to become thick and flavorful.
Oxtail soup can be enjoyed both hot and cold, and it's a great way to warm up on cold days.
🥘 Equipment Used
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You can cook this delicious soup on the stovetop, but you can also use an instant pot pressure cooker or a slow cooker.
🧾 Ingredients Used
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this hearty oxtail soup recipe.
- Oxtails: You can purchase oxtails at your local deli, grocery store, or butcher shops. If they are bought from the grocery, they are sometimes labeled as 'beef oxtails.'
- Vegetables: This oxtail soup recipe includes carrots, spinach, green onions, onions, and garlic. You can add other hearty vegetables if you like.
- Olive oil: This will be used to brown the oxtails. You could also use avocado oil.
- Beef broth: This adds depth and flavor to this soup.
- Spices: For this recipe, I use smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, bouillon powder, and salt. You can adjust these spices to your liking.
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- Wash the oxtail pieces and pat them dry. Place the oxtails in a large bowl, then season them with salt and black pepper.
- Pour the olive oil into a large stock pot at medium-high heat. Once the pot is heated, place the oxtails in the olive oil.
- Brown the oxtails for about 5 minutes on each side.
- Remove the oxtails from the pot and set them aside. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot.
- Add the chopped onions and garlic to the pot and stir until translucent.
- Pour in the beef broth and cold water and add the remaining spices.
- Add the oxtails back in, bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 2.5 - 3 hours.
- Stir frequently and make sure the oxtail broth does not dry up. Add more water if you need to.
- When you have 20 mins to go, add the carrots and spinach and cook till the carrots are soft.
- Add the green onions, and top with parsley or another herb of your choice.
Instant Pot Oxtail Soup
You can easily make this soup in a pressure cooker.
Repeat steps 1-6 above using the sauté function of the instant pot.
Pressure cook on high pressure for 45 minutes, then release the pressure naturally.
Slow Cooker Oxtail Soup
Cook the oxtail soup in the slow cooker on low for 7-8 hours.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
The leftover soup tastes amazing the next day! You can store this hearty meal in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Before placing it in the fridge, let the soup cool down to room temperature. It is best to store the soup within two hours of cooking it.
To reheat this oxtail beef soup, place it in a saucepan over low heat. Do not bring the soup to a boil, as this can cause it to become overly thick or dry.
Simmer the soup until it is heated through, stirring occasionally. While you can reheat oxtail soup in the microwave, the stovetop usually yields the best results.
💭 Tips and Variations
- For fall-off-the-bone tender oxtail soup, simmer it for at least 3 hours.
- Add a few spoonfuls of tomato paste to the broth for a richer flavor.
- If you'd like to add a bit of heat to the soup, add a diced jalapeno or other chili pepper.
- For a creamier soup, add a few tablespoons of heavy cream or coconut milk towards the end of cooking time.
- Add a few slices of smoked bacon or ham to the pot to give the soup a smoky flavor.
- To give the soup an Asian twist, add a few tablespoons of fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, or rice wine vinegar to the broth.
- For a more robust flavor, consider adding a few sprigs of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano to the pot.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
There are many ways to enjoy this delicious soup. You can enjoy it as is or add various other ingredients, such as fresh herbs and vegetables, to customize it to your taste. It is usually eaten with white rice, but I eat mine with a bowl of keto-friendly rice since I'm on a low-carb diet.
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
What is oxtail soup good for?
Oxtail soup is a warm, comforting dinner with a lot of nutrients. It is perfect for warming you up on cold days.
Is oxtail a cheap meat?
Oxtail has grown in price during recent years and currently costs over $10 per pound.
How long does oxtail soup take to cook?
Oxtail soup takes a long time to cook and the time varies depending on your cooking method. On a stovetop, it typically takes 2 to 3 hours to cook. On the instant pot, you pressure cook it for 45 minutes and cook it for 7-8 hours using a slow cooker.
Is oxtail soup good for weight loss?
Is oxtail soup good for weight loss?
This depends on how you make it. Oxtail stew doesn't have a lot of calories, and it does have lots of protein and other good stuff for your body. So if you make it without sugar, it is excellent for weight loss.
📚 Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Oxtail Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs oxtails
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 oz carrots
- 2 cups spinach loosely chopped
- 2 scallions sliced
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprike
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2-3 cups of water or as needed
Instructions
- Wash the oxtails and pat them dry.
- Season the oxtails with salt and black pepper.
- Pour the olive oil into a large pot at medium-high heat. Once the pot is heated, place the oxtails in the olive oil.
- Brown the oxtails for about 5 minutes on each side.
- Remove the oxtails from the pot and set them aside. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot, if needed.
- Add the chopped onions and garlic to the pot and stir until translucent.
- Pour in the beef broth and water, and add the remaining spices.
- Add the oxtails back in, bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 2.5 - 3 hours.
- Stir frequently and make sure there is still liquid in the pot.
- When you have 20 mins to go, add the carrots and spinach and cook till the carrots are soft.
- Add the green onions last, and top with parsley or another herb of choice.
Instant Pot Oxtail Soup
- Repeat steps 1-6 above using the sauté function of the instant pot.
- Pressure cook on high pressure for 45 minutes, then release the pressure naturally.
Slow Cooker Oxtail Soup
- Cook the oxtail soup in the slow cooker on low for 7-8 hours.
Notes
- For fall-off-the-bone tender oxtail soup, simmer it for at least 3 hours.
- Add a few spoonfuls of tomato paste to the broth for a richer flavor.
- If you’d like to add more heat to the soup, add a diced jalapeno or other chili pepper.
- For a creamier soup, add a few tablespoons of heavy cream or coconut milk towards the end of cooking time.
- Add a few slices of smoked bacon or ham to the pot to give the soup a smoky flavor.
- To give the soup an Asian twist, add a few tablespoons of fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, or rice wine vinegar to the broth.
- For a more robust flavor, consider adding a few sprigs of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano to the pot.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
Do I simmer the oxtail covered?
Yes, covered. I'll update the instructions, thanks!