Citrus Braised Lamb Shanks Recipes

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH GLAZED LEMON AND ORANGE SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large, heavy casserole, heat the oil until almost smoking over medium-high heat.
• Add the lamb shanks and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. If you cannot fit the shanks without crowding, just do 2 at a time.
• Stir in the onion, adjust the heat down to medium, and cook until the onion is wilted and pale, about 4-5 minutes.
• Blend in the lemon and orange slices, tomatoes, stock, wine, honey, cinnamon stick, salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, stir to combine the ingredients, cover the casserole and transfer to the preheated oven.
• Bake the lamb shanks until they are very tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Remove the cover and skim off the fat, return the pot to the oven, partially covered, for another 15 minutes, turning the shanks a couple of times during this time.
• Serve over cooked pasta or bulgur.

CITRUS-BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a large casserole. Add the carrot, onion and celery, and sweat over low heat, until tender. Add the thyme, bay leaves, garlic, tomato paste, wine, and broth, along with all but a few pinches of the zests and a tablespoon of each juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
• Meanwhile, season the lamb with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining olive oil in a separate large sauté pan and brown the shanks on all sides. Add the shanks to the casserole and cover. Transfer to the oven and cook until the meat is completely tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove the shanks from the pan and keep warm. Skim the fat from the surface of the sauce. Reduce the sauce to the desired consistency. Stir in the reserved citrus juices and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the lamb shanks and sauce on warmed plates (with Israeli couscous or some good bread). Sprinkle with a little parsley and the remaining citrus zest.

ORANGE BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• In a suitable casserole dish, sweat the diced vegetables in some of the olive oil without browning until tender.
• Add the thyme, bay leaves, garlic, tomato, wine and lamb stock or water, along with most of the orange zest and juice (retain a few pinches of zest and 1 tbsp of juice).
• Bring to the boil and lower to a gentle simmer.
• Heat a little more olive oil in a separate pan and brown the lamb shanks on all sides, seasoning with a little salt and pepper as you go.
• Transfer to the casserole dish and cover with its lid.
• Transfer to the oven and cook for approx 2hours or until the meat is completely tender and coming off the bone.
• Remove the shanks from the pan and keep warm while you finish the sauce.
• Skim off some of the fat that is floating on it. Taste for seasoning and to assess its intensity, boil to reduce if you think it needs it.
• Stir in the reserved juice to refresh the citrus flavour.
• Serve one lamb shank on each warmed plate with a generous amount of sauce spooned over.
• Sprinkle each shank with a little parsley and a pinch of the reserved zest.