Viennese Veal Shanks

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
• 6 (1-inch-thick) veal shanks measuring about 4 inches across (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons bacon drippings (from about 6 slices of bacon)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 yellow onions, cut into eighths
• 3 carrots, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 parsnips, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 celery ribs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 6 large sprigs flat-leaf parsley
• 2 large bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons ground paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seed (optional)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup dry white wine (such as Riesling)
• 1/2 cup sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 350u0b0. Combine first 3 ingredients in a shallow dish; thoroughly dredge veal shanks in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Heat drippings and butter in large Dutch oven 2 minutes over high heat, add 3 veal shanks, and brown each side 3 to 4 minutes; remove to baking sheet. Brown remaining veal shanks, and remove to baking sheet. Saute onion and next 7 ingredients in drippings 5 minutes. Add broth and wine, deglaze by stirring to loosen particles from bottom of pan, and bring to a boil.
2. Return veal shanks to Dutch oven, and top with vegetables. Transfer to lower third of oven, cover, and bake 2 hours or until veal is fork-tender. Remove parsley sprigs and bay leaves, and add more salt and pepper, if desired.
3. Arrange veal on a heated baking sheet, and keep warm. Let vegetables cool slightly. Place one-fourth of vegetables and liquid in a blender, and add sour cream. Pulse 2 or 3 times, then blend 10 to 15 seconds or until smooth. Add salt, if desired.
4. Pool some vegetable puree on each of 6 heated dinner plates, and center a veal shank and vegetables on top. Serve remaining puree in a heated gravy boat.

flour, salt, freshly ground pepper, veal shanks measuring, bacon, butter, yellow onions, carrots, parsnips, celery, parsley, bay leaves, ground paprika, caraway, beef broth, white wine, sour cream

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/viennese-veal-shanks (may not work)