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Braised lamb shanks served with rich red wine sauce and garnished, plated dish

Braised Lamb Shanks

This Braised Lamb Shanks Recipe is perfect for a cozy dinner, featuring tender lamb with a rich, savory sauce.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 540
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 4 pieces Lamb shanks About 1 per person
  • to taste Salt and black pepper
  • optional cups Flour For a light dusting, helps with browning
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped
  • 1 medium Carrot, chopped
  • 2 stalks Celery, chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
  • 1 cup Red wine Or extra broth if you do not cook with wine
  • 2 cups Beef or lamb broth
  • 1 leaf Bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme or rosemary

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the oven to 325 F.
  2. Pat the shanks dry, season well, and lightly dust with flour if you want.
  3. Brown the shanks in a heavy pot with oil. Do not rush this part.
  4. Remove shanks, then cook chopped onion, carrot, and celery until softened.
  5. Stir in crushed garlic and tomato paste for about 1 minute.
  6. Pour in red wine and scrape up all the brown bits.
  7. Add broth and herbs, then return the shanks to the pot.
Braising
  1. Cover and braise in the oven for about 2.5 to 3.5 hours, until the lamb is very tender.
Final Steps
  1. When the lamb is done, pull the shanks out and simmer the sauce a few minutes to thicken.
  2. If you like it smoother, strain it, but keeping the vegetables adds a homey touch.

Notes

Let the lamb rest for 10 minutes before serving. You can prepare the dish a day in advance for better flavor. Also, if the sauce tastes sharp, it may need a pinch of salt or a tiny bit of sweetness.