Easy Braised Lamb Shanks

Braised Lamb Shanks are some serious comfort food!   Made with grass-fed local farm lamb and slow cooked until tender in a red wine sauce flavored with tomato, onions, garlic, and fresh rosemary.  Serve over mashed potatoes or polenta for the ultimate tasty food dish.

Braised Lamb Shanks = Major Comfort Food Recipe

Every year we buy an organic, grass fed lamb from our favorite local farm and every year I make this same classic dish with the shanks.  Braised lamb shanks have become my favorite comfort food go-to dish, especially when the cold weather calls for a hearty dish.

A more affordable way to buy organic meat

Many people might think that buying grass fed meats from local farms is too expensive, but the truth is that it can be quite affordable.  One way to save money while supporting your local farmer is to become part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program.  Think of it as a subscription service for the freshest, in-season food for vegetables, meat, fish, bread, dairy, etc.  I search for local farms near me on EatWild.

Another way to make this way of eating more affordable is to buy less expensive cuts.  This recipe utilizes lamb shanks, which are a super flavorful, yet inexpensive cut of meat.

Since it’s a super tough piece of meat, it does take some time slow cooking and oven braising for the shanks to really shine, but in about 2-3 hours, you’ll have some of the most tender and flavorful lamb ever.  Plus, the sauce is amazing and you’ll want to pour it all over everything!

The base of this recipe is the same one I use for my Braised Beef Short Ribs,  with a few changes and additions.  I’m a firm believer in the “if it ain’t broke” theory.  Also, if you’re not a lamb lover, then the beef short ribs recipe might be just for you.

One of the BEST winter recipes around!

Since the weather here is still crappy (aka winter) and I’m all about comfort food right now.  I’ve been oven roasting, braising, Instant Potting, and Crock-potting everything…but no grilling.

Honestly, I cried the other night because it was -1F degrees outside and there was snow all over the ground.  I couldn’t grill the chicken and pork I had marinating in homemade jerk paste for the past 2 days without literally freezing to death.  p.s. that might be a slight exaggeration)

The next time it was cold and windy, didn’t even mess around with the grill.  Instead, I made these shanks and served them with creamy polenta (made with a ton of grass-fed butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese mixed in) and oven roasted kale.  Added a glass of red wine and it was perfection on that chilly winter  spring night.

Serve the lamb shanks with these sides:

• Slow Cooker Colcannon
• Fresh Ginger & Shallot Green Beans
• Easy 7 Layer Salad
• Sweet Potato Rolls
• Garlic Cheddar Cheese Angel Biscuits

Think of these braised lamb shanks next time you need to make a comfort food recipe on a chilly day.  They also make a perfect Easter dinner!

Braised Lamb Shanks

Braised Lamb Shanks are some serious comfort food! Made with grass-fed local farm lamb and slow cooked until tender in a red wine sauce flavored with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and fresh rosemary. Serve over mashed potatoes or polenta for the ultimate tasty food dish.

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 421kcal

Author: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

• 4 small lamb shanks , about 3/4-1 pound each; preferably local farm raised & grass-fed, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion , about 1 medium
• 1 cup diced carrot , about 1 large
• 4 garlic cloves , minced
• 1/2 cup good quality red wine
• 2 cups good quality beef stock , homemade or store bought
• 1 cups good quality chicken stock , homemade or store bought
• 3 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary , chopped (can substitute 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)

optional: fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley , chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Take the lamb shanks out of refrigerator and let come to room temperature before cooking (about 1/2-1 hour).
• Preheat oven to 325F/163C degrees.
• Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add tablespoon of olive oil and sear the shanks on all sides until brown, adding additional olive oil as needed. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium and add onion, carrot, and garlic to the pan.  Sauté until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook until reduced by half. Add beef and chicken stocks, tomato paste, and rosemary and stir well.  Increase heat again to medium-high and bring sauce to a boil. Return lamb shanks to the pan, cover, and place in the preheated oven.
• Braise the shanks for 2-2 1/2 hours, or until lamb is fork tender.
• Place the cooked shanks on a serving dish. Skim excess fat off top of cooking liquid and reduce over high heat to thicken into a sauce, if necessary. Place one lamb shank on a plate, spoon sauce over it, and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

Leftovers are even better the next day so make a double batch!

Nutrition Facts

Braised Lamb Shanks

Amount Per Serving

Calories 421 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Cholesterol 129mg43%

Sodium 589mg25%

Potassium 1054mg30%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 44g88%

Vitamin A 5545IU111%

Vitamin C 8.4mg10%

Calcium 56mg6%

Iron 4.5mg25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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