Dish guides
What is ossobuco?
Ossobuco is a Milanese main course of cross-cut veal shank braised slowly in white wine and broth, usually finished with gremolata, a mix of lemon zest, garlic and parsley. The name means "bone with a hole", after the marrow-filled bone in the middle. It's traditionally served with saffron risotto.
- At a glance
- Ossobuco
- Milanese braised veal shank with gremolata, usually served with saffron risotto.
- Pronunciation
- Say it like oss-soh-BOO-koh · IPA /ˌɔssoˈbuːko/
- Also written as
- osso buco, ossobuco alla milanese, ossobuchi, ossobuco con risotto, ossobuco in gremolata
What’s in it
Core ingredients
- cross-cut veal shank
- flour for dusting
- butter
- onion
- dry white wine
- meat broth
- gremolata (lemon zest, garlic, parsley)
Often added
- tomatoes (the more common modern version)
- carrot and celery
- risotto alla milanese
- polenta or mashed potatoes
- beef shank instead of veal (abroad)
Allergens
| Allergen | How likely |
|---|---|
| Gluten | Typically contains |
| Dairy | Typically contains |
| Celery | Often contains |
| Sulphites | Often contains |
| Eggs | Rarely contains |
| Peanuts | Rarely contains |
| Tree nuts | Rarely contains |
| Shellfish | Rarely contains |
| Fish | Rarely contains |
| Soy | Rarely contains |
| Sesame | Rarely contains |
| Diet | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Pescatarian | No |
| Halal | No |
| Kosher | No |
| Gluten-free | Depends — Only if the shanks aren't dusted in flour before browning; the risotto or polenta served with it is normally gluten-free, but ask. |
Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
How ossobuco is made
The veal shank is sawn across into thick slices, each with a round of marrow bone in the centre. The slices are usually dusted in flour, browned in butter, then braised gently with onion, white wine and broth until the meat is tender enough to cut with a spoon. Just before serving, the cook sprinkles over gremolata, chopped lemon zest, garlic and parsley, which lifts the rich sauce.
There are two styles. The older Milanese one, in bianco, has no tomato. The version you'll meet more often today adds tomatoes, carrots and celery. Other regions make their own tomato-based versions.
On the plate and how to eat it
Expect one or two thick rounds of meat, glossy with sauce, each with a ring of bone in the middle. The marrow inside is considered the best part: scoop it out with the tip of your knife or a small spoon and eat it with the meat. In Milan, ossobuco is often served on or beside a golden risotto alla milanese, making a single, filling course. Elsewhere it's often served with polenta or mashed potatoes.
How to order it
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vorrei l'ossobuco con il risotto, per favore. | I'd like the ossobuco with risotto, please. |
| La carne è infarinata? Sono celiaco. | Is the meat dusted with flour? I have coeliac disease. |
| C'è il sedano nel sugo? | Is there celery in the sauce? |
Not to be confused with
- Risotto alla milanese — The saffron risotto served alongside ossobuco; it's a separate dish.
- Stinco — A whole pork or veal shank, roasted rather than sliced and braised.
- Cotoletta alla milanese — Milan's other veal classic: a breaded chop fried in butter.
Frequently asked questions
What does ossobuco mean?
Ossobuco means "bone with a hole" in Italian, from osso (bone) and buco (hole). It refers to the round piece of shank bone in the middle of each slice, which holds the marrow. In Milanese dialect the dish is called òss bus. On menus you'll see it written as one word, ossobuco, or as two, osso buco.
Is ossobuco beef or veal?
Traditionally veal: cross-cut slices of veal shank, the lower leg. Veal shank is tough but becomes very tender after long braising. Some restaurants, especially outside Italy, make it with beef shank, and pork or turkey versions exist too. If the meat matters to you, ask "È di vitello?" (Is it veal?).
What is ossobuco served with?
In Milan it's classically served with risotto alla milanese, a creamy saffron risotto, so the two arrive together as one course. Elsewhere it may come with polenta or mashed potatoes instead. In many restaurants the side is included in the price, but check whether it's listed separately as a contorno.
Is ossobuco gluten free?
Not always. The shanks are usually dusted in flour before browning, which adds gluten to both the meat and the sauce. Some cooks skip the flour, and the classic accompaniments, saffron risotto and polenta, are normally gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, ask whether the meat is floured ("La carne è infarinata?") before ordering.
How do you pronounce ossobuco?
Say oss-soh-BOO-koh, with the main stress on BOO and a long oo sound. The double s is held slightly. In IPA it's [ˌɔssoˈbuːko]. The plural, used when a menu lists more than one, is ossibuchi or ossobuchi.
