Lamb Shanks
Lamb shanks are one of the most versatile and flavoursome cuts of the lamb you could use. When slow cooked this cut of meat, can taste velvety, with the connective tissue melting off the bone, giving the lamb shank all of its flavour, when combined with a deeply rich flavored red wine sauce and mash potato sides, it cannot be beaten for a filling and hearty meal.
Irish Style Braised Lamb Shanks Recipe
Lamb shanks Irish style merely means adding pearl barley as in Irish Stew, very popular on St Patricks Day! This truly is a warming and delicious dish, with a couple of twists in our tips! CAN BE SLOW COOKED as well.
Lamb Shanks Recipe Tips
- If you want to slow cook this, still brown off the shanks and put into a slow cooker with all the vegetables and stock. Cook on high for 4 hours, and then test. Replenish stock if necessary or even use water. Stir a little and continue to cook for another hour. Repeat this process until the lamb and vegetables are all tender. Add some chopped mint at the end before serving.
- Instead of using an oven, you can place this into the slow cooker and get the same effect.
- A dash of mint sauce into the gravy will really bring out the flavour of the whole dish bit of a cheat but delicious!
- Roasted parsnips are also delicious served with this casserole, if you have the time.
Recipe Serves: 4
Recipe Cooking Time: 2 and a half hours to 3 hours
Recipe Preparation Time: 25 mins
Ingredients
- 4 medium-sized lamb shanks
- 1 tbs vegetable oil
- 4 tbs of pearl barley
- 400ml of lamb stock (you can use beef stock)
- Handful of fresh thyme leaves
- 200 grams of carrots roughly chopped
- 2 large leeks, cut into equal pieces
- 3 potatoes, quartered
- 2 medium onions, quartered
- 3 celery sticks, cut into about 8 cm each piece
- Seasoning to taste
- 1 tin of flageolet beans or cannellini beans, rinsed
- half a bunch of mint and parsley coarsely chopped for the dressing
Directions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees or use a slow cooker on low.
- hand rub the salt onto each lamb shank as it will improve the meats flavour.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan, and slightly brown off the shanks evenly. Sealing the meat to keep in the flavour when they are slow cooking.
- Transfer the shanks to a large casserole or ovenproof dish with a lid. Add the stock, barley, and thyme. Cover with foil and place the lid on. Cook in the oven for approx. 2 hours.
- Remove from the oven and add all the vegetables, plus some more water or stock if required. Season to taste, recover and put back in the oven for another hour.
- Take the casserole out of the oven and check that the lamb is soft and falling off the bone. If not, return to the oven for another 15-30 mins.
- Take the lamb out of the casserole dish and place on a warm plate and cover tightly with foil. On the top of the oven, reheat the vegetables over a low to medium heat and check that they are cooked to your liking. Add more water or stock according to how you like the gravy.
- Serve on warm plates, a couple of spoonful’s of the sauce on the bottom. Place the shanks on top, and then some more of the sauce and vegetables.
- If required, serve with some baby potatoes or mashed potatoes sprinkled with a little mint and parsley.
For more information on buying the right slower cooker, we recommend you review the following;
Slow Cooker Reviews
To find out more about slow cookers recipes, you can read BellyBelly’s article :
