Braised Italian Lamb With Mushrooms From Olive Magazine April 10 Recipes

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the onions in a layer in the bottom of a Dutch oven or medium roasting pan with a lid. Arrange the lamb shanks on top of the onions. Pour the wine, balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the lamb. Place a clove of pressed garlic next to each shank, and a quarter of a lemon on each side. Pour the tomatoes over everything, then season with salt, pepper and basil.
• Cover and place in the preheated oven. Cook for 3 hours. Use juices from the pan to make a nice flavorful gravy.

BRAISED ITALIAN LAMB WITH MUSHROOMS FROM OLIVE MAGAZINE APRIL 10

Steps:

• Brown the lamb shanks in the oil and then place in a small deep casserole dish. Pour over the tomatoes and enough lamb stock to just cover. Add the thyme sprigs bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 2 hours until just tender.
• Lift out lamb and keep warm whilst you bubble sauce to thicken.
• Fry the mushrooms in butter with garlic and a few more thyme leaves. Return the lamb to the sauce serve with the mushrooms and serve crusty bread in a shallow bowl.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH MUSHROOMS AND PASTA

Steps:

• Set oven to 325 degrees.
• In a large Dutch oven or oven-proof pot heat oil over high heat.
• Season lamb shanks with salt and pepper then brown on both sides (about 6-7 minutes per side) transfer to a platter or plate.
• Add in onions, garlic, mushrooms, thyme, majoram and crushed red pepper; saute for about 7-8 minutes or until veggies are tender.
• Return the lamb back to the pot.
• Add in wine and bring to a boil; simmer for about 6-8 minutes.
• Add in broth, Worcestershire sauce and crushed tomatoes; bring back to a boil.
• Cover the pot and transfer to the oven to cook for about 2-1/2 - 3 hours, or until the lamb is very tender.
• Season with salt and pepper about the last 30 minutes or cooking.
• Meanwhile cook the pasta in boiling salted water until JUST firm-tender; drain and place the pasta in a large bowl.
• Spoon the sauce over the cooked pasta, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, then place the shanks on top.
• Serve and pass more Parmesan cheese separatel at the table.

FOUR & THIRTY BRAISED LAMB

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, trim the skin and as much fat as possible from the lamb. Smear lightly with olive oil and season. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a very large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Brown the lamb thoroughly on all sides, turning it with a big pair of tongs, then put it in a large, but fairly snug-fitting, casserole (a 4.8 litre/8 pint oval one is ideal). Reserve the pan.
• Slit lengthways through the first two layers of the leek, remove leaves and wash them. Put the bay leaf, thyme and celery inside one leaf and wrap with the other, to enclose the contents. Tie this 'faggot' with kitchen string and set aside. Rinse the rest of the leek and slice finely.
• Put the reserved frying pan over a low-medium heat and melt the butter. Tip in the onion, carrot and sliced leek and cook gently for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables have softened. Add them to the casserole, draining off any fat first. Reserve the pan.
• Preheat the oven to 150C/Gas 2/fan oven 130C. Break the garlic into cloves and place in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water and leave for 1 minute, then drain, run under cold water and peel: the best way is to place a clove on a chopping board, nick off the root end and, without lifting the blade, pull the clove away. This removes the first bit of skin and the rest should come away easily. Set the cloves aside.
• Discard any fat from the frying pan and put it over a very high heat. Pour in the wine, scrape up any bits from the bottom and boil furiously for 5 minutes. Pour the wine and stock into the casserole. Add the garlic cloves and leek faggot, making sure they are immersed - the lamb should be at least half-covered. Do not add salt.
• Cover the casserole and put it into the oven. Braise for 4 hours, reducing the temperature to 140C/Gas 1/fan oven 120C for the last 2 hours and turning the lamb every hour. Remove the lamb, put it on a heated dish, drape loosely with foil and keep warm for up to 30 minutes.
• Strain 1 litre/13⁄4 pints of the cooking juices into a pan and bring to the boil over a very high heat. Bubble madly for 8-10 minutes until the liquid has reduced by half. Meanwhile, tip the vegetable debris (but not the faggot) into a food processor and whizz to a smooth purée. Whisk this into the reduced liquid to make the sauce. Check the seasoning, then keep the sauce at a bare simmer until you are ready to serve.