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Barramundi with braised oxtail

Barramundi with braised oxtail

Shown with beetroot Lyonnaise.

“I enjoy doing variations of surf ‘n’ turf, a lot of people don’t really like it, but I think it works. The earthiness of the barramundi suits something stronger like the richness of the braised oxtail.” — Warren Turnbull

Barramundi with braised oxtail

Serves 4
Cooking Time Prep time 30 mins, cook 3 hrs
1½   litres (6 cups) veal stock
4   barramundi fillets (160gm each)
1 tbsp   olive oil
20 gm   butter
1   small garlic clove, finely chopped
1   thyme sprig
To serve:   coarsely torn flat-leaf parsley
Braised oxtail
30 ml   vegetable oil
1 kg   oxtail pieces
1   onion, coarsely chopped
1   carrot, coarsely chopped
1   celery stalk, coarsely chopped
3   garlic cloves
2   thyme sprigs, leaves picked
4   fresh bay leaves
200 ml   tawny Port
6   white peppercorns
1   star anise


1 Bring veal stock to the boil in a large saucepan, then simmer over medium heat until reduced to 500ml (18-20 minutes).
2 For braised oxtail, preheat oven to 130C. Heat oil in a large frying pan, season oxtail, add to pan and cook over medium heat until fat renders and meat is golden brown (7-8 minutes), then transfer to a casserole. In the same frying pan, add vegetables and garlic and cook over medium heat until caramelised (5-6 minutes), then add to casserole. Add reduced veal stock, port and spices to casserole and bake, covered, until meat falls from the bone (1½-2 hours).
3 Remove oxtail, cool, then pick meat from bones (discard bones) and set aside. Strain cooking liquid through a fine sieve into a medium saucepan, cool, skim fat from surface and cook over medium heat until reduced to 500ml and sauce is sticky (7-8 minutes). Add oxtail, season to taste and keep warm.
4 Increase oven to 200C. Season barramundi to taste. Heat oil in a large oven-proof frying pan, add barramundi fillets skin-side down and cook over medium heat until skin is golden brown and crisp (4-5 minutes), transfer pan to oven and cook until just cooked through (6-7 minutes). Return to stove top, add butter, garlic and thyme, turn barramundi and cook over low heat, basting regularly with pan juices until skin is golden (2-3 minutes).
5 To serve, divide oxtail among bowls, top with a barramundi fillet, scatter over parsley and serve immediately with beetroot Lyonnaise.


Drink Suggestion Medium-bodied cabernet or cabernet blend.

RECIPE Warren Turnbull PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Emma Knowles DRINK SUGGESTION Sharon Timms

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