Lamb shanks are a succulent and flavorful cut of meat that fall off the bone when cooked properly. This versatile dish can be prepared in a variety of ways, from slow-cooking in a savory broth to roasting in the oven with aromatic herbs. In this article, we'll provide you with two delectable recipes for lamb shanks: one for a classic braised lamb shank with red wine sauce, and another for a herb-roasted lamb shank with roasted vegetables. Both recipes are easy to follow and will leave you with a tender and juicy lamb shank that is sure to impress your family and friends. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to indulge in the culinary delight that is lamb shanks!
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
SLOW COOKER LAMB SHANKS
In this easy recipe, flavorful, tender, fall-off-the-bone lamb shanks are slowly cooked with broth and aromatics until wonderfully tender.
Provided by Vered DeLeeuw
Categories Main Course
Time 4h25m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Add the broth to your slow cooker.
- Season the lamb shanks with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and rosemary. Place the shanks in your slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 7 hours, until the lamb is very tender.
- When the lamb shanks finish cooking, set the slow cooker to WARM.
- Transfer the cooked lamb shanks to a plate. Strain the cooking liquids into a glass measuring cup, then return the lamb shanks to the slow cooker pan (carefully wipe it with warm moist paper towels if needed) and cover, to keep the meat warm while you thicken the gravy.
- Use a spoon to skim the fat layer off the top of the cooking juices. Pour them into a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until almost boiling but not quite, then turn the heat down to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until liquids are reduced into a rich gravy, 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer the lamb shanks to plates, spoon the gravy on top, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 lamb shank, Calories 377 kcal, Protein 57 g, Fat 15 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 502 mg
EASY BRAISED LAMB SHANKS RECIPE
Super tender, perfectly spiced braised lamb shanks and vegetables in a rich red wine sauce. Cooking lamb shanks is easier than you might think. Simply season, sear, and braise! It's the perfect lamb shank recipe for a small gathering! A dry red wine is your best bet for the red wine sauce. (Merlot is my favorite here, but a Cabernet Sauvignon would work well, too.) Serve rosemary lamb shanks with couscous, Lebanese rice, or pita to soak up all the delicious sauce. Start this rich, meaty dinner with a big bright salad like arugula salad or white bean salad.
Provided by Suzy Karadsheh
Categories Entree
Time 3h
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, add all the spice mix ingredients and mix to combine.
- Pat the lamb shanks dry and season with the spice mix on all sides.
- In a large Dutch oven pot like this one, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the lamb shanks on all sides (about 8 mins or so). Transfer the lamb shanks to a large tray or bowl for now. Carefully dispose of extra fat in a separate heat-safe bowl, and return the pot to heat.
- Now add the onions, celery, carrots and potatoes. Saute for 5-7 minutes on medium-high, or until the vegetables gain some color. Add red wine, scrape the pot of brown bits. Cook briefly so that the wine reduces a bit.
- Add the broth, tomatoes, cinnamon sticks, thyme, and rosemary. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper. Return lamb shanks back to the pot; press down to submerge. Boil for 10 minutes. Turn heat off.
- Cover the pot and transfer to the 350 degrees F-heated oven. Cook in the oven for 2 1/2 hours (It's a good idea to check periodically through cooking just in case you need to add a little more liquid. When the shanks finish cooking, the liquid will have reduced to about 1/3 of what it was when you started.)
- While the lamb shanks are cooking, prepare rice according to this recipe, or prepare 2-3 cups of orzo pasta according to package instructions.
- Serve the lamb shanks hot with a little of the veggies and braising sauce on top of rice or orzo pasta. You might also like to prepare a side salad like this 3-ingredient Mediterranean salad or Fattoush. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 447.5 kcal, Sugar 6.6 g, Sodium 974.4 mg, Fat 11.3 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Carbohydrate 27.8 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 44.4 g, Cholesterol 127.3 mg, UnsaturatedFat 7.1 g, ServingSize 1 serving
BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH PEPPERS
Hearty and aromatic, this braised lamb dish, adapted from my mother, Annette Gertner, takes inspiration from the Middle East by way of Eastern Europe. It simmers mostly unattended and even benefits from being made earlier in the day - or even a day or two in advance - and reheated. The four shanks yield four copious portions. (The recipe will serve six if every guest does not insist on having a bone.) Orzo alongside will sop up the sauce.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories meat, main course
Time 3h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Pat dry lamb shanks. In a heavy casserole or Dutch oven that will hold all the shanks, heat oil on medium-high. Add lamb shanks and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove to a platter. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Add bell peppers and onions to the pan. Sauté, stirring, until the vegetables wilt and just begin to color, 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic, dill seed, paprika and cinnamon. Stir. Add stock and wine. Bring to a simmer. Stir in tomato paste and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in lemon juice. Return lamb shanks to the pot along with any juices on the platter. Cover them with a piece of parchment or waxed paper, cover pot with lid, reduce heat to very low and cook about 2 hours, basting the shanks occasionally and turning them at least once until the meat is very tender when pierced with a knife.
- Remove shanks from the pot. Increase heat to medium and reduce sauce by about a third, about 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Return shanks to the pot, baste and reheat. Serve directly from the casserole or transfer to a serving dish. Strew with fresh dill before serving.
ANDREW'S TENDER LAMB SHANKS
My husband came up with this recipe and it makes a very tender piece of lamb. It was based on a Gordon Ramsay recipe, but to make Gordon's version you'll want to throw in a carrot and more garlic, leave out the cloves and cook it entirely on the stove top. He also recommends serving it with mashed parsnip but we like traditional potatoes.
Provided by Sackville
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 3h15m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat a little olive oil in a large pan.
- Season the lamb and brown the shanks all over in the oil, then take out of the pan and set aside.
- Add the onion, celery, garlic, bay leaves and cloves and cook gently until browned.
- Pour in the wine and continue cooking until it has reduced down to a syrup.
- Put the contents of the frying pan into a baking dish along with the shanks and pour over the stock.
- Season again to taste.
- Cover the baking dish and cook in a low heat in the oven (about 150 C) for 2-1/2 to 3 hours, until the meat is tender.
- Take the dish out of the oven.
- Transfer the lamb to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Strain the stock into a frying pan or small saucepan and heat until simmering.
- Mix the flour and water together until there are no lumps and then add to the stock, allowing to cook until you have a gravy that is thick to your liking.
- Place the lamb shanks on a bed of mashed potatoes and pour the gravy over.
BRAISED LAMB WITH SQUASH AND BRANDIED FRUIT
Lamb shanks, braised until tender, are coated in a rich sauce of tomatoes, caramelized shallots and brandied dried fruit. The squash roasts as the lamb cooks, which is a time-saving perk, and its sweet custardy flesh rounds out the meal. Bone-in lamb shanks are ideal, but a similar weight of boneless leg of lamb will work just as well. Potatoes, carrots and parsnips will do well in place of the squash. Serve over steamed rice or couscous or with thick slices of crusty bread to mop up the sauce.
Provided by Yewande Komolafe
Categories meat, main course
Time 2h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Place the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven, and heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Halve the squash lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds and discard them. Rub the flesh of the squash with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt. Place 3 sprigs each of thyme and sage on a small baking sheet. Place the cut side of the squash directly on top of the herbs. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Add the quartered shallots cut-side down and cook until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid scorching. Season with salt and transfer to a plate. Set aside.
- Pat the lamb dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pot over medium-high. Cook the lamb on both sides until browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Work in batches if necessary.
- Add the minced shallots and garlic to the pan, season with salt and stir to coat with the pan drippings. Add the whole peeled tomatoes and their juices, then add the stock or water and bring to a boil. Return the lamb shanks to the pot and add the remaining thyme and sage.
- Cover the pot with a lid or a piece of foil and move the pot to the bottom rack of the oven. Place the squash on the top rack. Bake the squash until the flesh is tender and a thin knife can be easily inserted, about 75 to 90 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Continue to cook the lamb until the meat is tender enough to pull with a fork, about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours total.
- Scoop out the squash with a spoon and place on a serving plate, then transfer the lamb to the plate and cover to keep warm. Remove the braised tomatoes from the lamb cooking liquid and discard along with any excess fat.
- Set the pot over medium heat and reduce the liquid to about 3/4 of its volume, about 5 minutes. Add the browned shallots and brandied fruit. Cook until shallots are tender and sauce is warmed through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the lamb and squash and garnish with mint leaves. Serve with steamed rice, couscous or thick slices of a crusty sourdough loaf.
SCHREINER'S BAKED LAMB SHANKS
This recipe has been on the menu for decades. I started working for Bernard Schreiner as a busboy 29 years ago, and baked lamb shanks were a favorite then, too. The recipe was passed down from his mother. We feature comfort foods made from scratch.-Dale Grantman, Des Moines, Iowa
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 3h10m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the lamb shanks in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce heat to 350°. Add broth to the pan. Combine onion, rosemary, garlic powder and mustard; sprinkle over lamb. Cover tightly and bake for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until very tender. If desired, make gravy from pan drippings. Serve lamb with gravy and mint jelly if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 115 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg cholesterol, Sodium 1140mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 12g protein.
Tips:
- Use high-quality lamb shanks. Look for shanks that are meaty and have a good amount of marbling. This will ensure that your shanks are tender and flavorful.
- Brown the shanks before braising them. This will help to develop their flavor and create a rich, flavorful sauce.
- Use a variety of vegetables in your braising liquid. This will add flavor and depth to the sauce. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
- Let the shanks braise for at least 2 hours. This will allow the meat to become tender and fall off the bone.
- Serve the shanks with a variety of sides. Some good options include mashed potatoes, rice, or vegetables.
Conclusion:
Lamb shanks are a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion. By following these tips, you can make sure that your lamb shanks are tender, flavorful, and sure to impress your guests.
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