Slow Cooked Lamb Shank

Slow cooked lamb shank is one of my favourite winter dishes. Using the slow cook method requires a slow cooker and if you are looking for one make sure they have the capacity to sear as well as cook slowly and even more important, the capacity for holding sufficient quantities (this dish serves 8 so it needs to hold 8 lamb shanks as well as sauces and vegetables).

There are a large number of slow cookers on the market and they range in size and cost from $50 to $150 so ensure you know what you are going to use it for. The slow cooking itself is fairly basic but it is added on elements which drive up the cost. We use a Cuisinart which cost $130 on offer and are very happy with it.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

8 lamb  shanks

1 onion , roughly chopped

2 carrot , roughly chopped

few sprigs fresh rosemary

3 fresh bay leaf

4 garlic  cloves, left whole

2 tbsp plain flour

1 tbsp tomato  purée

350ml white wine

500ml lamb or chicken stock

Strips of kale lightly blanched (optional)

Method using a slow cooker

This recipe assumes you have a large slow cooker with facility to sear/brown as well as slow cook. Pour the oil into the slow cooker and add the shanks. Spend a good 10 mins browning the lamb all over.  Remove the shanks. Add the onion and carrot and cook for 10 mins until starting to brown. Stir in the herbs and garlic and cook for a few mins more. Stir in the flour and tomato purée, season well then pour over the wine and stock. Return the lamb shanks to the slow cooker. Switch to simmer, cover with a lid and slow cook, undisturbed, for 7 hrs.

Remove the lamb from the sauce and set aside. Put pan back on the heat and reduce it down for about 15 mins until rich and glossy. Pass through a sieve into a jug. To serve, reheat the lamb in the sauce, adding a splash of water if the sauce is too thick.

This dish goes exceedingly well with garlic mash, pan fried mushrooms and strips of kale.