Tantalize your taste buds with the delectable Moroccan-style lamb shanks, a culinary masterpiece that embodies the vibrant flavors of North African cuisine. Slow-cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender, the lamb shanks are lovingly immersed in a rich and aromatic broth infused with an exotic blend of spices, dried fruits, and fresh herbs. This tantalizing dish is complemented by tender baby potatoes and sweet peas, creating a harmonious symphony of flavors that will transport you to the bustling souks of Morocco. Additionally, the article offers a delightful collection of complementary recipes, including a refreshing cucumber and tomato salad with a zesty lemon-mint dressing, a fluffy and aromatic saffron rice pilaf, and a sweet and tangy carrot and orange salad. These accompaniments perfectly round out the Moroccan-style lamb shank experience, offering a delightful balance of flavors and textures that will leave you craving for more.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
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
LAMB TAGINE WITH POTATOES AND PEAS (L'HAM BEL B'TATA WA JEBLANA)
Tagines are typical street food in Morocco, and this is the one that is most commonly found. I also use frozen peas, which I blanch in boiling water first.
Provided by Anissa Helou
Categories HarperCollins HarperCollins Dinner Lamb Onion Parsley Cilantro Potato Lamb Shank
Yield 4-6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Put the shanks, onions, garlic, spices, and a little salt into a large pot. Add water to barely cover, about 4 cups (1 liter) and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Turn the shanks over in the sauce and cook for another 15 minutes. Turn the meat again and cook for another 15 minutes, or until the meat is tender. If the shanks are not tender after an hour, cook for 15 to 30 minutes longer, adding a little more water.
- When the meat is tender, add the herbs (reserving a little cilantro for garnish) and potatoes and cook for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are just done. Add the peas and cook uncovered for another few minutes, until the peas are cooked. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. If the sauce is still runny, let it bubble hard uncovered until the sauce has thickened.
- Transfer meat and vegetables to a serving dish. Garnish with the reserved cilantro and serve very hot with Moroccan bread.
LAMB SHANKS WITH CHICKPEAS & MOROCCAN SPICES
Couscous goes well with the North African flavours of this dish
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 4h
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Soak the chickpeas overnight. Drain, tip into a saucepan and cover generously with fresh cold water. Bring to the boil, simmer for 45 minutes and drain.
- Heat the oil in a large casserole and brown the lamb all over. Remove and set aside. Pour off most of the fat, leaving 1 tablespoon in the dish, add the onions and fry for 8-10 minutes until soft.
- Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3/fan oven 140C. Mix together the ginger, garlic, chillies, cumin, coriander, pepper and paprika. Add half of this to the onions, tip in the tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Put in the lamb and chickpeas, cover generously with water (about 850ml/11⁄2 pints), bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Cover and cook in the oven for 11⁄2-2 hours until the chickpeas are really tender. (You can prepare up to this stage the day before. Cool, cover and refrigerate. Bring back to simmering point before starting step 4.)
- Remove from the oven and stir in the remaining spice mixture, the saffron and cinnamon, carrots, apricots, honey and salt. Cover and return to the oven for 45 minutes-1 hour until the lamb is tender and the vegetables cooked. Scatter the almonds and coriander on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 653 calories, Fat 27 grams fat, SaturatedFat 10 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 55 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 1 grams sugar, Fiber 11 grams fiber, Protein 50 grams protein, Sodium 0.47 milligram of sodium
MOROCCAN HAROSETH-BRAISED LAMB SHANKS
Tender braised lamb is prepped with a sweet haroseth marinade in this Passover dinner recipe from Craigie on Main chef Tony Maws.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 29
Steps:
- Add lamb shanks to marinade and toss to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Transfer to refrigerator and let marinate overnight.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Place carrots, onion, celery, fennel, garlic, and ginger in a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Remove lamb from marinade and wipe off excess. Season with salt and pepper and add to roasting pan. Transfer to oven and roast, turning once, until well browned, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and deglaze lamb and vegetables with wine and tomato paste.
- Decrease oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- Transfer lamb to a large Dutch-oven and add enough chicken stock to cover the lamb shanks halfway (you may not need to use all of the chicken stock). Add roasted vegetables, apricots, figs, dates, prunes, currants, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, crushed tomatoes, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and chile flakes. Place thyme, parsley, cilantro, and bay leaves in a piece of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine to enclose. Add to Dutch oven and cover.
- Bring lamb mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Immediately transfer to oven and cook until meat is tender and falling off the bone, about 3 hours.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Remove lamb shanks and set aside. Remove vegetable mixture and cooking liquid from Dutch-oven and pass through a food mill back into Dutch-oven. Return lamb to Dutch-oven and toss to coat; serve.
LAMB SHANKS WITH APRICOTS AND CHICKPEAS
This stew, inspired by Moroccan tagines, is meant for lamb shanks, but lamb shoulder, cut in large chunks, would also work. As with most braises, this one improves after a night in the fridge, giving the flavors time to meld and deepen. You could even make it a few days before serving. The subtle commingling of onion, saffron and apricots is enchanting. Take the time to soak and cook dried chickpeas, if you can. Using canned is easier, but freshly cooked chickpeas taste far better (and their drained cooking liquid makes a delicious vegetarian broth).
Provided by David Tanis
Categories meat, tagine, main course
Time 3h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Season lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper. Place in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Cover with 6 cups water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a low simmer and cook, covered with lid ajar, for 1 hour. Remove shanks and reserve cooking liquid. Wipe out the pan. (You may cook the lamb shanks in advance, even a day ahead.)
- Set Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon garlic, bay leaf, saffron, tomato paste and paprika. Stir together and let sizzle for 1 minute, then add reserved lamb broth and bring to a boil. Add lamb shanks and apricots, cover with lid ajar and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until meat is very tender, nearly falling off the bone.
- Remove shanks and place on a cutting board to cool. Add parsnips to simmering broth, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Taste broth and adjust seasoning. If necessary, reduce over medium-high heat to concentrate cooking juices.
- When shanks are cool enough to handle, remove the bones (use your hands). Cut the meat into large chunks and return to the pot to warm through. Transfer meat and sauce to a serving platter.
- To finish, warm remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic and let sizzle without browning, about 30 seconds. Add chickpeas and warm them through, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt, and toss with the chopped cilantro. Spoon chickpeas over lamb and sauce.
MOROCCAN-STYLE LAMB SHANKS WITH POTATOES AND PEAS
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a small heavy pot or skillet, and stir in the onion, garlic, ginger, and saffron; then lay in the lamb shanks. Cook for about 5 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently and turning the shanks over. Pour in enough water to cover, and sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grindings of pepper. Cover, and continue to cook over low heat for 1 1/2-2 hours, until the shanks are very tender; check the level of liquid, and add more water if necessary so that it just covers the shanks. Add the potatoes, and simmer for 20 minutes; then add the peas, preserved lemon, and olives, and cook another 4 or 5 minutes. Fish out one of the shanks and the potatoes, and place on a warm plate; then, with a fine-mesh scoop, pick up all the peas and seasonings and scatter them over the meat. Pour on some of the cooking sauce (you'll only use about half of it), and sprinkle the parsley and cilantro on top.
- Variations
- I've used lima beans instead of peas, as well as a handful of fava beans, when I have them in the garden; both take a little longer to cook than the peas, so allow for that. If you don't have preserved lemon, either store-bought or homemade, use a couple of slivers of fresh lemon peel, finely julienned. And don't worry if you don't have fresh cilantro-parsley alone is fine. Be sure to save the rest of the cooking sauce.
Tips:
- To achieve fall-off-the-bone tenderness, braise the lamb shanks low and slow. A slow cooker or Dutch oven works well for this purpose.
- Use a variety of spices and herbs to create a flavorful broth. Common Moroccan spices include cumin, coriander, paprika, and turmeric. Fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley add a refreshing touch.
- Don't be afraid to adjust the amount of heat in the dish. If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper or harissa paste. If you like it spicy, add more.
- Serve the lamb shanks with a side of fluffy couscous, rice, or crusty bread. The broth can be spooned over the top.
Conclusion:
This Moroccan-style lamb shanks recipe is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion. The lamb shanks are braised until fall-off-the-bone tender in a flavorful broth of spices, herbs, and vegetables. Serve with a side of couscous, rice, or bread for a complete meal.
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