Noob Oxtail Soup

Saw an oxtail at the butcher's and was curious to try slow cooking it as I've never made it before and I have a new love for bone! (as in, marrow flavour...). So here goes;

about 500-750g oxtail
a sprig of thyme
one bay leaf
50g butter
salt and pepper
400g canned tomatoes
cayenne or paprika
1 small red chilli
1 big onion, diced
4 cloves garlic
Parsley to garnish

Ideally you could marinade the meat overnight with salt, pepper, garlic and cayenne. Melt the butter to start with on medium heat, and add the meat. Brown the meat on all sides. Be careful not to burn the butter.

Add the diced onions and leave it to soften. Then add the sliced garlic and whole thyme sprig (be generous, it's the major note in this dish I think).

Lastly, add in the canned tomatoes and one can of water. Bring it to the boil and then cook on the lowest heat.

I cooked this for 3 1/2 hours occasionally stirring the dish at half hour intervals. You might need to add in water so that it does not get dry. I find cooking on the gas stove a bit unpredictable, so need to be careful not to burn it. If I had the slow cooker (all in the new house at this moment), I probably would have cooked it for at least 6-8 hours.

Anyways, the meat and tendons fell off the bone, and the taste was fabulous :) I wonder if some sour cream was called for but that would have turned it into some form of goulash so I just left it. Added some parsley for garnish.