Lamb Shanks And Prunes Recipes

LAMB SHANKS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• In a plastic or paper bag, combine the flour, salt, black pepper and cayenne and shake to mix. Add a few pieces of lamb at a time and toss to coat with the flour mixture until all the lamb is coated. If any of the flour mixture remains, set aside.
• Place a large heavy casserole, preferably cast-iron, over medium heat. Let it remain until hot. Warm 2 tablespoons of the oil and add only as much lamb as will fit without crowding. Brown the lamb on all sides, in batches, over medium heat, adding more oil as necessary. Remove the lamb to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same pan, saute the onions and celery until the onions are golden brown. Add any remaining flour mixture, and the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds.
• Return the lamb to the casserole. Add thyme, bay leaf and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, for one hour or until the meat is tender. Add the potatoes and prunes and cook 30 minutes longer, until the potatoes are tender.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove lamb and vegetables to a serving platter. Increase the heat to high and cook the remaining liquid until it reduces to a thick gravy, about 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Drizzle the gravy over the lamb and prunes, then serve.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 4 tablespoons oil in large wide ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Add lamb in single layer; cook until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer lamb to rimmed baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons oil to pot. Add onion and carrot and sauté until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add prunes, garlic, and cardamom and stir 2 minutes. Add both broths and bring to boil. Return lamb to pot, cover, and transfer to oven.
• Braise lamb until tender, about 1 3/4 hours. Transfer lamb to rimmed baking sheet. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Return lamb to pot, turning to coat. DO AHEAD: Lamb can be made 2 days ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, cover, and keep chilled. Rewarm over medium heat before continuing. Place lamb shanks on plates. Spoon sauce over.

LAMB SHANKS IN RED WINE WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Place prunes in a bowl, add wine and set aside. Heat oil in a 6-quart casserole or sauté pan. Add lamb and brown on all sides over medium heat. Remove. Stir in onion and garlic. Sauté on low until soft. Stir in bell pepper, cumin and paprika. Sauté a few minutes. Return lamb to pan, season with salt and pepper. Add thyme, prunes and wine. Cover and simmer 1 hour.
• Turn shanks in pan and baste. Add zest and cayenne. Cover and cook on low about 45 minutes more, until lamb is tender when pierced with a fork. Check seasoning. Serve with couscous.

SLOW-COOKED LAMB WITH PRUNES AND DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250 degrees. In 7-quart flameproof casserole or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat vegetable oil until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over lamb shanks. Working in batches if necessary to keep them from touching during the initial searing, add shanks to pan (they should sizzle the moment they hit the pan). Cook lamb shanks until well browned on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes each side. Set browned lamb aside in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add the sumac, and stir to combine; set the mixture aside.
• Add onion to the casserole, and cook over medium heat until softened and golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Add reserved stock mixture, apricot nectar, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, parsley, cilantro, tarragon, mint, and paprika; stir to combine.
• Return the reserved browned lamb shanks to the casserole. Place over medium-high heat, and bring the liquid in the casserole to a boil. Cover the pan, and transfer the casserole to the oven. Cook the mixture until the meat is tender, about 2 hours. Check the casserole in the oven occasionally to ensure a gentle simmer of the sauce, adjusting the heat of the oven or the height of the oven rack as necessary. The actual cooking time will vary depending on the size of the lamb shanks you started with. The meat should be very tender but should not fall off the bone, yet. Add the dried apricots, prunes, and chopped red bell pepper to the casserole, and continue to cook in the oven until the fruit has softened, about 1/2 hour more.
• Remove the cooked lamb shanks, apricots, prunes, and bell pepper from the casserole, and place them in the bowl with the lamb. Cover them with aluminum foil to keep warm, and set aside.
• Place the casserole over medium heat, and simmer until the liquid is thickened and reduced, about 15 minutes. Return the reserved lamb shanks, apricots, prunes, and bell pepper to the casserole just long enough to heat them through again, and stir them lightly to coat them with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Serve lamb shanks and sauce with couscous with mint and lemon.

LAMB SHANKS IN HONEYED PRUNE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large dish combine 2 tbs olive oil,onion,garlic,spices,lemon juice and zest.
• Add lamb shanks.Coat with marinade and cover.Leave 2-3 hours in fridge(longer if time permits)stirring occasionally and turning the lamb.
• Heat 1 tbs olive oil in large frying pan.Lift lamb shanks out of marinade and into frying pan.Brown lamb well on all sides.
• Remove lamb from pan and place in a large casserole dish.
• Add marinade ingredients to pan with 100mls/4 fluid ozs water and heat gently for 3-4 minutes.
• Remove from heat.Add honey and prunes. Stir gently to incorporate,without breaking up the prunes.
• Pour this heated mixture over the lamb shanks.Cover with lid or foil.
• Cook in preheated oven 160 deg C,325 deg F,gas mark 3 for 2 1/2 hours.
• If you prefer a thicker sauce,blend cornflour with a little cold water in a cup.Remove casserole from oven after two hours,stir a little of the sauce into the cornflour and water,mix well then stir back into the sauce in the casserole. Return casserole to oven for remaining half hour.
• Serve garnished with toasted almonds and/or chopped coriander.