Braised Oxtails with Sweet Potato Pudding and Fried Okra

Emeril Lagasse

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 1999

Show: Emeril LiveEpisode: Soul Food

Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 2 Reviews
Total Time:
2 hr 35 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
2 hr 20 min
Yield:
4 to 6 servings
Level:
--
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Ingredients

For the Oxtails:

  • 1 cup flour
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 pounds beef oxtails, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 2 quarts beef stock

For the Pudding:

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes, baked and peeled (about 2 pounds)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup pecan pieces
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Steen's 100% Pure Cane Syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, softened
  • For the Okra
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons Crystal Hot Sauce
  • 1 egg
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
  • Creole Seasoning, to taste
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 16 okra pods, washed and cut in half lengthwise
  • Parsley, to garnish

Directions

For the Oxtails: Season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge oxtails in flour. In a large Dutch oven, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the oxtails, in batches, and brown for about 3 minutes on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the onions, celery, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the vegetables start to wilt, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, bay leaves and stock. Scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to loosen the brown particles. Return the oxtails to the pot and cook, covered, until the sauce is stew-like and the meat starts to fall of the bone, about 2 hours. Baste the oxtails often during the cooking time. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

For the Pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mash the potatoes in a mixing bowl, until smooth. Add the eggs and milk and mix well. Add the nutmeg, cinnamon, 1/2 cup of the pecans, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, syrup, salt, vanilla, and bourbon. Mix well. Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2 quart round baking dish. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup pecans and the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar with the butter and mix well. Dot the top of the potato mixture with spoonfuls of the butter mixture. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

For the Fried Okra: In a mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce, and egg. Mix well. Add the okra, season with salt and turn to coat evenly. Let sit for 30 minutes. In another mixing bowl, combine the flour and cornmeal. Mix well and season with Creole seasoning. Heat the oil in a skillet. Dredge each of the okra in the seasoned flour, coating completely. When the oil is hot, add the okra, split side down and fry, turning once, for about 2 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with Creole seasoning. To serve, spoon some of the pudding in the center of each plate. Place some of the oxtails and gravy around the pudding. Pile the fried okra on top of the pudding. Garnish with parsley.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 2 reviews

  • on August 15, 2011

    Flag

    This takes a little work, but it is worth it. The gravy is delicious, and ox tails are delicious and tender.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on September 13, 2009

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    I made this meal tonight for dinner and it was so ridiculously good. My husband is from New Orleans and I wanted to make him a really memorable Southern meal. I chose this recipe because he loves Emeril. The oxtails were tender and succulent, especially smothered in the rich gravy. The okra was crispy with just the right amount of spicy kick. The sweet potato pudding was so decadent, it could have been dessert. I followed all three recipes to a "T" - the only exception being that I halved everything since there are only two of us. You cannot go wrong with this meal - it is delicious, homey, stick-to-your-ribs Southern food at its finest!

    For some of the more regional ingredients, like Steen's Cane Syrup, you can substitute but really shouldn't. You can order Steen's online, but we happened to have some in the house from my father-in-law's periodic shipments of Southern goods. If you absolutely cannot find it, molasses will do. Crystal Hot Sauce is awesome, and most well-stocked grocery stores will have it. And for the Creole seasoning, your best best is Tony Chachere's - also availlable in well-stocked groceries.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

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