Lamb Shanks (Slow Cooked)

Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

I was delighted that my friend Cherie rang me and invited me to help her do lamb shanks. Wonderful I thought one of my autumn favourites lamb shanks are so tender and so filling when slow cooked with vegetables and beans. I like them to be slow cooked with red wine, stock, beans and root vegetables.

She has two dogs called Starsky & Hutch and a husband called Michael. They are my best friends and I always enjoy their company and their house located in a bush land setting.

We really savoured the chance to do this recipe which is simple yet yields a superb supper dish. I browned the meat while Cherie did the stock while the dogs watched with bated breath. After the stock had simmered for 2 hours we place the lamb shanks, stock, vegetables and beans into a slow cooker and let it do it magic for 4 hours.

What a treat for us it was tender and delicious. Time spent well.


Recipe

Ingredients (serves 4)

* 1 cup seasoned plain flour
* 4 large French-trimmed lamb shanks
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 large onions, unpeeled, cut into 1cm slices
* 2 garlic cloves, crushed
* 2 chicken carcasses
* 2 cups soup vegetables chopped (celery, carrots, onions, etc)
* 2 cups carrots chopped
* 2 cups potatoes chopped
* 2 cups broad beans peeled
* 2 cup red wine (such as merlot)
* 1 can of crushed tomatoes

Method

Add onions and garlic to large stock pot. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft. Add chicken carcasses and soup vegetables. Add 2 litres of cold water. Stir to combine. Bring to the boil then lower heat and simmer for 2 hours. Strain you should have about 4 cups (1 litre) of chicken stock.

Place flour and salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Lightly coat shanks with flour. Heat oil in a saucepan over high heat. Cook shanks, in batches, for 3 to 4 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a large slow cooker with the other chopped vegetables and beans. Pour stock, wine and tomatoes over shanks cover. Cook for 4 hours on low.

Lamb Shanks (French Cut)


Floured Lamb Shanks


Browned Lamb Shanks


Making soup stock


Slow Cooking the shanks


Finished Shanks


Starsky & Hutch watching the slow cooking