Braised Lamb Shanks

Delicious braised lamb shanks are a complete takeout fake-out type of meal! Tender braised lamb can be served with couscous, rice or even quinoa.

Today I’m guest posting for my friend Brandy over at Nutmeg Nanny. Brandy has been such a good friend to me. When she asked if I would guest post for her while she was on vacation, I jumped at the opportunity to not only help her out, but also to share this great recipe with her wonderful readers.

You can check out the recipe below or head on over to her site and read the full post about these fall-off-the-bone lamb shanks.

Try braised lamb shanks out, they are delicious and not at all difficult to make! They aren’t an exact flavor twin of the lamb shanks from our favorite restaurant, but they are fall-off-the-bone tender and have really great flavor. My husband said that he might even like them better (!) than the restaurant version. 

About braised lamb shanks

The process is pretty simple and most of the cooking time is hands off. 

Simply sear the lamb shanks in a Dutch oven or another heavy pan that has a lid. Set them aside after they’ve been browned and sauté the veggies. Add the tomato paste and spices, cooking and stirring them a minute or so. Add the tomatoes, molasses and wine, nestle the shanks back in the pan, adding just enough beef broth to come 3/4 of the way up the sides of the lamb shanks.

Cover and bake in a medium hot oven for an hour. Remove the pan from the oven and check the level of the liquid. If necessary, add more broth, and return to the oven for another hour. That’s it! Pretty easy, right? You’ll love how good your kitchen smells while the lamb slowly braises in the oven.

Don’t worry if you’re not quite ready for dinner when the lamb shanks are ready. They won’t mind a little extra time in the oven, they’re really laid back about that. Just make sure they don’t dry out. 

What will I need to make braised lamb shanks?

• 2 lamb shanks (1-1.5 lbs. each), seasoned with salt and pepper
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, for sautéing
• Carrots, celery, onion
• Red bell pepper
• Herbs and spices (paprika, red pepper flakes, thyme, rosemary)
• Tomato paste
• A can of diced tomatoes
• Molasses
• Dry red wine
• Beef stock
• Parsley, to garnish

I like to serve lamb shanks with whole wheat couscous. They are wonderful with rice or quinoa. Try them with mashed potatoes (make them in your Instant Pot!) or easy baked potatoes.

Feeding a crowd? Add up to two more lamb shanks if you have a big enough pan. Keep the other ingredients the same, except you will need more beef stock to add to the pan.

Love lamb? Try these delicious lamb lettuce wraps or herb-marinated lamb chops, or shepherd’s pie made with ground lamb.

Not a fan of lamb? This recipe would also work well with turkey legs.

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Braised Lamb Shanks

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

Delicious braised lamb shanks are a complete takeout fake-out type of meal! Tender braised lamb can be served with couscous, rice or even quinoa.

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Ingredients

• 2 lamb shanks (1-1.5 lbs each)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium carrots, finely diced
• 2 stalks celery, finely diced
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 ounces tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1-2 cups reduced-sodium beef stock
• Fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Season lamb shanks generously on all sides with salt and pepper.
3. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven (you want your shanks to be able to fit in one layer). Carefully place the lamb shanks in the oil and sear until brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
4. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and bell peppers to hot Dutch oven and cook until onion is becoming translucent. Add tomato paste and spices (paprika, red pepper flakes, thyme, rosemary). Continue to cook about one minute.
5. Add tomatoes with their juices, wine, and molasses. Bring to simmer and return the shanks to the pan. Add about one cup of the beef broth, or enough to cover the lamb shanks about half to three quarters of the way. Cover and move to preheated oven.
6. Cook for one hour, remove from oven and check the level of the liquid. If necessary add more beef broth. Return to oven, covered, and continue to cook for another hour.
7. (Optional) Skim off any fat/oil that has come to the surface of the pan. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve lamb shanks with sauce and vegetables with couscous, rice, or quinoa, garnished with fresh parsley.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 lamb shank
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 659Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 957mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 7gSugar: 38gProtein: 33g

RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.

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