Braised Lamb Shanks Recipe

Name: Braised Lamb Shanks
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 lamb shanks (3 to 3 1/2 pounds total), excess fat trimmed; Kosher salt; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion, chopped; 2 large carrots, chopped; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 3 to 4 medium potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 1/4 cup chicken or beef stock; 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried; 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon dried; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 bay leaf; Optional, and highly recommended:; 3/4 cup raisins, soaked in 1/2 cup sherry for a couple hours; 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

Do you love lamb? Braised lamb shanks are the perfect hearty meal for cooler days.

What Are Lamb Shanks?

The shank is the part of the animal between the hoof and the knee, right below the leg of lamb cut. Because they get a lot of exercise (almost all lamb is raised grass fed on the range), the shanks can be rather tough. But because of that exercise, they also have the most wonderful flavor!

Tough cuts like lamb shanks lend themselves well to a low and slow braise. Long cooking at a low temperature is exactly what you need for meat that is falling-off-the-bone tender.

How to Make Braised Lamb Shanks

For this recipe, we brown the lamb shanks first. Browning brings out even more of the flavor of the meat!

Next, we sauté some onions, carrots, and celery. We add the lamb shanks, garlic, potatoes, herbs, sherry, and raisins. Why raisins? I love the way the little sweet notes of the raisins make the overall flavors of the dish pop.

Then we add stock, bring the stew to a simmer, cover it, and put it in the oven for the lamb to cook, low and slow for a couple of hours, until the shanks are beautifully tender and falling off the bone.

Tips on How to Cook Lamb Shanks

Brown the shanks well. If you skip this part, you'll lose out on a lot of flavor.
Don't rush it. Raising the temperature may cook the shanks more quickly, but it's the low and slow that make them so tender. Don't go above 350°F and be patient. You can even cook them at 300°F, but your cook time will be longer.
Cook to at least an internal temperature of 165°F, but it's fine to leave them in longer until the meat practically falls off the bone.
Make sure to have a proper pot. An oven-proof, enamel-coated, cast iron Dutch oven with a lid is ideal for this recipe.
Shanks only. Don't substitute leg of lamb or other tender cuts of meat.

Making Lamb Shanks Ahead of Time

This is a great recipe to make ahead because the flavors will meld together like a good stew (which this essentially is). To make braised lamb shanks in advance, follow the recipe as directed, including stripping the meat from the bones.

Allow the dish cool and transfer it to a tightly covered container. Place in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. If you like, remove and discard any solidified fat from the stew. Reheat on the stovetop in the same pot you cooked it in by brining to a simmer, than cooking until good and hot.

Freezing Braised Lamb Shanks

This recipe freezes well, although the potatoes may have a slightly different texture when it's defrosted. Freeze in a freezer-safe zipper bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator.

Sides to Serve with Braised Lamb

Braised Lamb Shanks

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins

Servings 4 servings

2 lamb shanks (3 to 3 1/2 pounds total), excess fat trimmed
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
3 to 4 medium potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups chicken or beef stock
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf

Optional, and highly recommended:

3/4 cup raisins, soaked in 1/2 cup sherry for a couple hours
Mint leaves, for garnish

Preheat the oven:

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Season the lamb:

Season the lamb with salt.
Brown the lamb shanks:

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or an oven-proof, thick-bottomed, pot with a tight fitting cover on medium high heat on the stovetop. Working in batches if necessary, brown the lamb shanks in the pot on all sides. Remove shanks to a dish.

Elise Bauer
Sauté the onion, carrot, and celery:

Add onion, carrot and celery and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Elise Bauer
Add the potatoes, then the garlic, lamb, herbs, sherry, and raisins:

Add potatoes and cook another 2 minutes. Add the garlic, lamb shanks, and herbs (except for the optional mint). If using, add the sherry and raisins; bring the sherry to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.

Elise Bauer
Add the stock and bring to simmer and put in oven:

Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, cover the pot and bake in the oven for 1 1/2 or 2 hours or until shanks are tender.

Elise Bauer

Elise Bauer
Discard the bay leaf and strip the meat from bones:

Remove the bay leaf and discard. Remove the shanks, strip the meat from the bones and return the meat to the pan.

Serve with fresh mint leaves as garnish.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
567	Calories
27g	Fat
46g	Carbs
35g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	567
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g	35%
Saturated Fat 9g	43%
Cholesterol 108mg	36%
Sodium 335mg	15%
Total Carbohydrate 46g	17%
Dietary Fiber 6g	20%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 35g
Vitamin C 22mg	110%
Calcium 81mg	6%
Iron 4mg	25%
Potassium 1531mg	33%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.