Osso buco alla Milanese is Italian comfort food at its best, with tender braised veal served over a fragrant, eye-catching risotto. 


Traditional Osso Buco alla Milanese Recipe

Osso buco alla Milanese, sometimes spelled ossobuco alla Milanese, is a regional variation of [osso buco](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/osso-buco-recipe), an Italian dish of braised veal shanks with origins in the Lombardy region. Unlike the more famous osso buco in bianco, which gets its flavor from earthier notes of anchovy, bay leaf, and cinnamon, this Milanese-style dish incorporates tomatoes, carrots, and celery into the braising liquid. 

Osso buco alla Milanese contrasts the richness of veal shanks with a traditional gremolata, a bright combination of chopped parsley, lemon zest, and garlic.

In Italian, “osso buco" means “pierced” or “hollow” bone, a reference to the visible gap left behind in the shank bone once the bone marrow cooks down into a spreadable, flavorful jelly. Traditionally, osso buco alla Milanese appears alongside [risotto Milanese](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/risotto-milanese-recipe) (saffron risotto), polenta, or [mashed potatoes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-pureed-and-mashed-potatoes-with-thomas-keller).
Osso buco alla Milanese makes a stunning main course for a special occasion. Here’s what to know: 

1. __Substitute alternate cuts for veal shank, if necessary__. If you can’t find any veal shank at your local butcher counter, beef shank—the same cut of meat, just on a full-grown cow—is the ideal substitute for veal. The shank is one of the toughest cuts since it comes from the cow’s hardworking and not very fatty front and back legs. Look for bone-in cross-sections that expose the rich marrow at the center.
2. __Serve with risotto alla Milanese__. Osso buco alla Milanese traditionally gets served on a bed of electric-yellow risotto Milanese, a savory, saffron-infused variety of [risotto](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/wolfgang-pucks-springtime-risotto), a classic dish of rice cooked in broth. Risotto alla Milanese features starchy [Arborio rice](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe) cooked in a flavorful combination of [beef broth](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-beef-stock-easy-beef-broth-recipe), white wine, and shallots, accented with saffron powder. 
3. __Make the topping in a mortar and pestle__. Gremolata (also spelled as gremolada) adds herbaceous acidity to the rich, earthy tones of the osso buco. To best extract the oils from fresh chopped parsley, garlic, and [lemon zest](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-zest-a-lemon-easy-lemon-zest-recipe-ideas), combine the ingredients in a large mortar and pestle and gently crush or pound until the mixture resembles a rough sauce. 
Osso buco alla Milanese is Italian comfort food at its best, with tender braised veal served over a fragrant, eye-catching risotto. 


Osso buco alla Milanese, sometimes spelled ossobuco alla Milanese, is a regional variation of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/osso-buco-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/osso-buco-recipe","linkCopy":"osso buco","category":null}'>osso buco</a>, an Italian dish of braised veal shanks with origins in the Lombardy region. Unlike the more famous osso buco in bianco, which gets its flavor from earthier notes of anchovy, bay leaf, and cinnamon, this Milanese-style dish incorporates tomatoes, carrots, and celery into the braising liquid. Osso buco alla Milanese contrasts the richness of veal shanks with a traditional gremolata, a bright combination of chopped parsley, lemon zest, and garlic.In Italian, “osso buco&quot; means “pierced” or “hollow” bone, a reference to the visible gap left behind in the shank bone once the bone marrow cooks down into a spreadable, flavorful jelly. Traditionally, osso buco alla Milanese appears alongside <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/risotto-milanese-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/risotto-milanese-recipe","linkCopy":"risotto Milanese","category":null}'>risotto Milanese</a> (saffron risotto), polenta, or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-pureed-and-mashed-potatoes-with-thomas-keller' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-pureed-and-mashed-potatoes-with-thomas-keller","linkCopy":"mashed potatoes","category":null}'>mashed potatoes</a>.

What Is Osso Buco alla Milanese?

Osso buco alla Milanese makes a stunning main course for a special occasion. Here’s what to know: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Substitute alternate cuts for veal shank, if necessary. If you can’t find any veal shank at your local butcher counter, beef shank—the same cut of meat, just on a full-grown cow—is the ideal substitute for veal. The shank is one of the toughest cuts since it comes from the cow’s hardworking and not very fatty front and back legs. Look for bone-in cross-sections that expose the rich marrow at the center. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Serve with risotto alla Milanese. Osso buco alla Milanese traditionally gets served on a bed of electric-yellow risotto Milanese, a savory, saffron-infused variety of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/wolfgang-pucks-springtime-risotto' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/wolfgang-pucks-springtime-risotto","linkCopy":"risotto","category":null}'>risotto</a>, a classic dish of rice cooked in broth. Risotto alla Milanese features starchy <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe","linkCopy":"Arborio rice","category":null}'>Arborio rice</a> cooked in a flavorful combination of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-beef-stock-easy-beef-broth-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-beef-stock-easy-beef-broth-recipe","linkCopy":"beef broth","category":null}'>beef broth</a>, white wine, and shallots, accented with saffron powder. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Make the topping in a mortar and pestle. Gremolata (also spelled as gremolada) adds herbaceous acidity to the rich, earthy tones of the osso buco. To best extract the oils from fresh chopped parsley, garlic, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-zest-a-lemon-easy-lemon-zest-recipe-ideas' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-zest-a-lemon-easy-lemon-zest-recipe-ideas","linkCopy":"lemon zest","category":null}'>lemon zest</a>, combine the ingredients in a large mortar and pestle and gently crush or pound until the mixture resembles a rough sauce. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Making Osso Buco alla Milanese

Osso buco alla Milanese is Italian comfort food at its best, with tender braised veal served over a fragrant, eye-catching risotto.