Braised Veal Shanks, Milanese Style

As is the case with many classic recipes, apart from certain undisputed essential elements, there are often several interpretations. For example, tomatoes were not introduced in this recipe until the end of the eighteenth century. Some people still make it without tomatoes, but I like the richer, rounder flavor tomatoes give, particularly when accompanied in the classic style with saffron risotto. This recipe is similar to the one my mother makes. Traditio