Tom Valentis Lamb Shanks Recipes

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH TOM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. With a sharp knife, cut about 1 inch from the bottom (narrow end) of the shank bones down to the bone and all the way around; this will help expose the bone while cooking. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add lamb, and sear until brown all over, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from pot, and set aside.
• Pour off all but 3 tablespoons fat. Add celery, carrot, and onion, and cook until soft and beginning to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add tomato paste, and cook about 3 minutes more. Stir in red and white wine, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, anchovies, garlic, vinegar, and sugar. Increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes to burn off some of the alcohol. Add veal and chicken stocks.
• Add lamb and return to a boil. Cover and transfer to oven. Cook for 1 hour. Uncover and cook until meat is very tender, turning the shanks over every half hour, 2 1/2 to 3 hours more.
• Remove shanks from braising liquid; strain the liquid and discard the solids. Skim any fat that rises to the surface and use the liquid as a sauce. Spoon some polenta onto a serving plate. Top with a lamb shank. Spoon sauce around plate and serve immediately.

TOM VALENTI'S LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• 1.Preheat oven to 325°F. Season the lamb with salt and pepper.
• 2.Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the celery, carrot, and onion; cook until very soft, 8 to 10 minutes.
• 3.Add the tomato paste and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add the thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, anchovies, and garlic; cook 3 minutes.
• 4.Add the wines, vinegar, and sugar; raise the heat to high and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and add the broths. Leave over medium heat while you brown the lamb shanks.
• 5.Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil into a sauté pan. Over medium-high heat, brown the lamb shanks well on all sides, using tongs to flip them over.
• 6.Transfer lamb shanks to a roasting pan and pour the braising liquid on top. Cover with aluminum foil and cook in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove the foil and cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours more, turning the shanks over every half hour until the meat is very soft.
• 7.Remove the shanks from the braising liquid and strain the liquid. Skim any fat that rises to the surface, then use the liquid as a sauce. Serve in shallow bowls atop White Bean Puree.

SABA-BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place lamb shanks into a large bowl; drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and rosemary. Toss the lamb shanks to spread oil and seasonings over the meat.
• Spread onion slices and garlic cloves into the bottom of a heavy 9x12-inch baking dish. Lay lamb shanks over onions and garlic.
• Bake lamb in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Combine chicken broth and saba in a bowl. Pour mixture over the lamb shanks. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and place baking dish on a baking sheet.
• Bake lamb in the oven until a knife pierces the meat easily, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The meat will be tender but not falling off the bone. Use tongs to turn the shanks over in the pan sauce. Increase temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Return shanks to oven and bake, uncovered, until meat is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn shanks over in the sauce after 10 minutes and check for tenderness; if still not tender enough, return to oven for 10 to 15 more minutes and test again.
• Transfer lamb shanks to a bowl and keep warm. Strain pan juices into a saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Skim any excess grease from top of sauce. Taste and season with salt; stir in fresh rosemary. Serve sauce drizzled over lamb shanks.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH WHITE BEAN PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Season shanks with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Put 3 shanks in the pan and brown well on all sides. Transfer shanks to a large roasting pan. Repeat with remaining shanks, adding oil if needed.
• Put garlic, onion, celery and carrot in the pan. Cook 30 seconds. Add half the wine and deglaze the pan. Add the vegetable-wine mixture to the roasting pan. Add the remaining ingredients. Put the roasting pan on a burner and bring to a simmer. (Shanks should be almost covered with liquid; if necessary, add water.) Cover with aluminum foil. Put in oven and bake until meat is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove shanks from liquid and keep warm. Strain liquid through a fine sieve into a large saucepan. Degrease. Simmer until sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Put shanks over a mound of bean puree and top with sauce.