Minted Lamb Shanks Recipes

MINTED LAMB SHANKS RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat a heavy based pan over a high heat.
• Season the lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper.
• Cut the onion into quarters don't bother peeling or removing the root.
• Add the oil to the pan and then add the onion quarters cut side down.
• Whilst the onions are caramalising sear the lamb shanks on all the sides that you can.
• Transfer the onions and lamb shanks to a roasting tin.
• Return the pan to the heat and get it nice and hot.
• Add the red wine and reduce by half.
• Pour in the beef stock and add the honey and 75ml of mint sauce.
• Pour this mix over the lamb and throw in the rosemary.
• Cover the tin with foil and cook in the oven at 170°C or 340°F for 2 hours.
• Remove the foil and turn up the heat to 200°C or 400°F and cook for another 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow the lamb to rest for 10 minutes.
• Use a pair of tongues to discard the onion skins and blend the onions.
• Pass the blended onion and the liquid from the cooking pan through a sieve into a very hot pan and reduce by half.
• Mix together the cornflour and water and then whisk through the gravy and add the final tablespoon of mint sauce before serving.

MINTED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and pat the lamb shanks dry with kitchen roll and season well.
• Heat half the olive oil in a large dutch oven or a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Sear the lamb shanks as best you can until browned all over and then remove and set aside.
• Add the remaining oil and add the onion. Cook for 5-6 minutes until softened and starting to highly brown and then add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
• Add the red wine and simmer until reduced by half.
• Pour in the stock, rosemary and mint sauce and stir everything together to combine. Season well.
• If you are using a dutch oven then return the lamb to the liquid. Alternatively, place the lamb in a deep baking dish and pour over the liquid. Cover with foil and place in the oven for 3 hours.
• 30 minutes before the lamb is ready, remove the foil or lid and return to the oven. Keep the foil for the next step.
• Remove the shanks and set them on a plate, covered with the foil. Strain the sauce into a saucepan through a mesh sieve, pressing with a wooden spoon to push through all the rich sauce. Skim the fat off the top, bring to a simmer and reduce until you have the consistency you want.
• Serve the lamb shanks with the sauce spooned over.

SLOW-COOKER LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• If you need to preheat your slow cooker then turn it on now. In a large hot frying pan, add half the oil and brown the lamb shanks all over, then transfer them to the slow cooker. This will take you about 10 mins and you may need to do it in batches. Add the remaining oil to the frying pan and fry the onion gently until it starts to turn translucent, then stir in the tomato purée and flour and cook for a minute.
• Add the red wine and bring it to a boil, stirring the flour and purée into the wine until you have a smooth sauce around the onion pieces. Tip into the slow cooker. Pour the stock into the same pan and bring it to a boil, then tip into the slow cooker. Add the carrots garlic, bay leaves, thyme and parsley stalks to the slow cooker and put the lid on. Cook on low for eight hours or on high for four hours. Turn the shanks over at some point during the cooking.
• After eight hours the lamb should be tender and starting to fall off the bone. If the sauce is too thin lift out the lamb and carrots and tip the sauce into a pan, boil it rapidly until it starts to thicken before adding the parsley.

SWEET AND TANGY MINT SAUCE FOR LAMB

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and vinegar.​
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, around 10 to 12 minutes. It should have a thick, syrupy consistency.​
• Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool for 5 minutes before adding the mint leaves. Give it a stir.
• Pour it into a bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let it steep for about 1 hour so the flavor of the mint can infuse the sauce, much like what happens when you're steeping a cup of tea.​
• Serve at room temperature with lamb.