Happy Holidays

Balsamic-Braised Lamb Shanks

Preparation and Cooking Time:  3.5 – 4hrs
Serves:  2

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon coriander, toasted and ground
• 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 lamb shanks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 4 celery ribs, cut into chunks
• 2 sprigs rosemary, de-stemmed and finely chopped
• 2 sprigs thyme, de-stemmed and finely chopped
• Zest of 1/2 a large orange
• 1/2 cup good balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup Perry, we recommend ‘Eighty 4’ by Paracombe Premium Perry
• 4 cups chicken stock

Instructions

1. Whisk flour, salt, black pepper, coriander, cumin and cinnamon together.  Roll the lamb shanks in the flour mixture until they are coated.
2. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and sear the lamb shanks on all sides until a good crust forms, this will take 8 to 10 minutes total.
3. Transfer lamb shanks to a plate and preheat your oven to 160° C.
4. Scrape any crusty bits from the lamb-searing off the bottom of the frying pan (don’t discard, just scrape them up to loosen them and prevent them from burning).
5. Place the frying pan over medium heat and add the garlic, onion, carrots, celery, rosemary, thyme and orange zest. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent, 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Stir in the vinegar and cook until it has evaporated slightly and thickened further, about 10 to 12 minutes.
7. Place the lamb shanks into a casserole pot and pour the Perry and chicken stock over them.  Season the broth with salt to taste, cover the pot and place it in the oven until the meat is very tender and falling off the bones, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
8. Remove the shanks from the pot, covering them with foil to keep them warm and strain the liquid into a saucepan. Discard the solids.
9. Cook the sauce over medium heat until it has reduced by half (it should yield about 1 1/2 cups).  This should take 10 to 15 minutes.
10. Season the sauce to taste and pour it over the lamb shanks.

Recipe from Food52.com