Cosy & Comforting Vibes Only! My Best Ever Slow-Cooked Dishes

peanut butter

🥗Healthier: almond butter

💰Cheaper: sunflower seed butter

Almond butter offers a similar texture with fewer calories.

beef shank

🥗Healthier: chicken thighs

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Chicken thighs lower fat content, while pork is more affordable.

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salted soy sauce

Soy sauce is easier to find and lower in sodium.

oxtail

🥗Healthier: beef chuck

💰Cheaper: brisket

Beef chuck is a leaner option, while brisket is often less expensive.

Season pieces of osso bucco all over with salt and pepper.

Place vegetable oil into a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the seasoned osso bucco.

Cook for 3 minutes until brown on one side, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes until the other side has coloured too.

Transfer beef to the pot of a slow cooker.

Reduce heat to medium and sauté annatto seeds for 1-2 minutes until the excess oil becomes red.

Remove and discard the annatto seeds, leaving the remaining oil behind.

Add in the onion and garlic, plus a good pinch of salt, and sauté for a further 2 minutes until tender and translucent.

Add 1 cup of beef stock to deglaze the pan and, using a wooden spatula, gently scrape off any bits from the bottom of the pan.

Transfer liquid and softened onions to the slow cooker.

Place a small frying pan over high heat and add the sticky rice.

Gently toast the rice until it’s a deep golden colour, then transfer to a mortar and grind to a fine powder.

Turn the slow cooker on high heat.

Add the ground rice to the slow cooker followed by the peanuts, eggplant, peanut butter and the remaining beef stock.

Give everything a gentle mix to incorporate the peanut butter into the liquid.

Cover the stew with a lid and leave to cook for 3 hours, or until the meat is falling off the bone.

After the first cook is complete, open the lid of the slow cooker and add in the beans.

Season the stew with the vinegar, fish sauce and brown sugar.

Give everything a good mix around to make sure all of the ingredients are well incorporated, then place the lid back on and cook for a further 20 minutes until the beans are tender.

Serve with steamed rice.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens