- Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the whole pieces of oxtail and fry until it begins to brown.
- Add the onion, carrots, celery and potatoes and fry for 1 minute.
- Add the herbs, water, stock, tomato puree, ale and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil and then turn down to simmer, with a lid on the pan, for 4 hours. After 2 hours add another 3 mugs of water, bring back to the boil and then continue to simmer.
- Add the butter beans 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, season the soup well with salt and pepper and continue to simmer.
- Once the meat is fully cooked carefully remove from the broth and pull apart the meet from the bone. Discard the bones and gristle and return the meat to the pan.
- Sprinkle the parsley into the soup just before serving. Great with some crusty bread