Osso buco is a classic italian recipe made by slow cooking veal shanks until the meat is tender and succulent. Veal shanks are tough cuts of meat with a lot of connective tissue in them. Braising them slowly in liquid breaks down those chewy bits. Braising doesn't produce the flavorful, brown outer crust that dry-heat cooking methods like roasting do, so we sear it on the stovetop first. You can read more here about how to braise meat. Osso buco can be served with risotto, polenta or even mashed potatoes. Traditionally, osso buco is garnished with a zesty condiment called gremolata.