Best Braised Beef Shanks Recipes

BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oil to 350 degrees F in the fryer.
• In a large stock pot or braising pot, add the olive oil. Season the shanks with salt and pepper. Season the flour with Essence. Dredge the shanks in the seasoned flour, coating each side completely. When the oil is hot, sear the shanks for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until very brown on all sides. Remove the shanks and set aside. Add the onions to the pan and saute for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the celery and carrots and continue to saute for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute. Deglaze the pan with the red wine, scraping the bottom and sides to loosen the browned particles. Add the stock. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add the shanks and continue to cook for about 2 hours, basting the shanks often, or until the sauce is stew-like and the meat starts to fall of the bone. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Place the parsnips in the fryer and fry until golden about 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the parsnips from sticking together. Remove the parsnips from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season the parsnips with salt and pepper. To serve, mound the pudding in the center of the plate. Lay a few of the shanks on top of the potatoes and spoon some of the gravy over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and garnish with the fried parsnips.

GARLICKY BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Season the beef shanks with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the shanks, in batches if necessary, until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion, celery and carrot to the pot and cook, stirring, until just starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the wine, bring to a boil and simmer until reduced by about half. Add the tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, then return the shanks to the pot. Nestle the shanks into the tomatoes, then add the stock (it should almost cover the shanks). Bring to a simmer. Cover the pot, transfer to the oven and braise until the meat is very tender, about 3 hours.
• Transfer the cooked shanks and their bones to a cutting board. Use a ladle to remove as much of the fat from the surface of the cooking liquid as possible. Coarsely shred the meat from the shanks, discarding any large chunks of fat. Return the shredded meat to the sauce and simmer on the stove over medium-high heat until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve. The bones can be served on the side if desired; the marrow is delicious spread on toast.

GARLIC-BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Pat shanks dry and rub all over with salt and pepper. Dredge shanks in flour, turning to coat. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown shanks on all sides in 3 batches, adding 1/2 tablespoon oil if necessary, 5 to 6 minutes per batch.
• Transfer shanks to a large roasting pan. Add broth and water to skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits. Nestle garlic (cut sides down), zest, thyme, and bay leaves with celery and carrots around shanks in pan and add broth mixture. Cover surface with a sheet of parchment paper and tightly cover pan with foil. Transfer to oven and braise until meat is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Skim off and discard fat from cooking liquid and cool mixture completely, uncovered, about 1 hour, then chill, covered, at least 6 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (leave rack in middle position).
• Skim off and discard any remaining fat from surface of pan juices and reheat shank mixture, covered, in oven, turning shanks over once, 1 hour. Discard bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and zest. Transfer shanks and vegetables with garlic to a serving dish and keep warm, covered. If pan juices measure more than 3 cups, boil in a cleaned 12-inch skillet until reduced; if less, add water. Squeeze garlic pulp from 1 head into pan juices, discarding skin, and whisk to incorporate, then add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over shanks and serve, along with vegetables and remaining garlic heads.

BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sprinkle beef with salt on both sides. Heat oil in a small pot with a tight lid until it shimmers. Add beef and brown well on both sides.
• Turn beef on its edge and move to sides of pot. Add onion, carrot, leek and garlic. Saute briefly, until onions and leeks start to go limp. Add pepper, wine and broth. Scrape bottom of pot to dissolve any accumulated fond. Lay beef back down on top of vegetables and lay rosemary across the beef. Cover tightly and transfer to oven. Braise in oven 2 hours.
• Combine grated lemon zest, minced parsley and minced garlic.
• Serve beef topped with gremolata. Vegetables may be served alongside or discarded, as you like.

RED WINE-BRAISED BEEF SHANKS WITH MUSHROOMS AND BASIL-MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over high heat until very hot.
• Season shanks on both sides with the Essence, transfer to Dutch oven and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer shanks to a plate and set aside. Add onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms to the Dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and beginning to caramelize, about 7 minutes.
• Add garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 2 minutes. Add red wine and stir well with a wooden spoon, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any bits. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, beef stock, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper and stir well to combine.
• Return shanks to the Dutch oven and bring sauce to a boil. Cover Dutch oven, lower heat to a simmer and cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally, or until shanks are tender. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, with sauce ladled over Basil-Mashed Potatoes. Serve with Sauteed Fennel and Leeks.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
• In a saucepan combine potatoes with enough water to cover by 1 inch and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drain potatoes in a colander. Add butter and milk to the saucepan and heat until butter is melted. Return potatoes to the saucepan, add sour cream, and mash with a potato masher until desired smoothness is achieved. Season with more salt (if necessary) and black pepper. Stir in chopped basil and serve immediately.
• 4 servings
• Heat a medium sized saute pan over medium high heat. Add olive oil. Add fennel and saute for 3 minutes, until translucent. Add leeks and season with salt and pepper. Saute until fennel and leeks are tender, another 4 minutes. Add lemon zest and butter and toss. Adjust seasoning and serve.

RED WINE BRAISED CENTER-CUT BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• In a braising pan heat 3-tablespoons olive oil, onions, carrots and saute until tender. Add garlic and saute for a minute.
• In a bowl add olive oil, sea salt, black pepper and wisk. Toss beef shanks one at a time in oil.
• Place 2 beef-shanks in braising pan and sear on both sides, remove from pan and set aside. Sear remaining beef shanks and place all beef- shanks into the pan.
• Add 1/2 cup Merlot wine and reduce wine by one-half.
• Add beef stock, tomatoes, tomato paste, bring to a full boil and reduce to simmer.
• Place fresh herbs, juniper berries, peppercorns in cheesecloth, tie with string and place in pan. Place a tight fitting lid over pan and braise 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beef is tender.
• Remove beef-shanks and hold warm. Strain beef stock and cook egg noodles in beef stock until tender.
• Divide noodles into warm bowls and place 1 Center-Cut Beef Shank on top. Add beef broth and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
• Chef's Note: Use a good quality Repertoire Wine2006 2006; Harmony Cellars, Paso Robles, Calif.

GARLIC-BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Pat shanks dry and rub all over with salt and pepper.
• Dredge shanks in flour, turning to coat. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown shanks on all sides in 3 batches, adding 1/2 tablespoon oil if necessary, 5 to 6 minutes per batch.
• Transfer shanks to a large roasting pan.
• Add broth and water to skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits.
• Nestle garlic (cut sides down), zest, thyme, and bay leaves with celery and carrots around shanks in pan and add broth mixture. Cover surface with a sheet of parchment paper and tightly cover pan with foil. Transfer to oven and braise until meat is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Skim off and discard fat from cooking liquid and cool mixture completely, uncovered, about 1 hour, then chill, covered, at least 6 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (leave rack in middle position).
• Skim off and discard any remaining fat from surface of pan juices and reheat shank mixture, covered, in oven, turning shanks over once, 1 hour.
• Discard bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and zest. Transfer shanks and vegetables with garlic to a serving dish and keep warm, covered.
• If pan juices measure more than 3 cups, boil in a cleaned 12-inch skillet until reduced; if less, add water. Squeeze garlic pulp from 1 head into pan juices, discarding skin, and whisk to incorporate.
• Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour sauce over shanks and serve, along with vegetables and remaining garlic heads.
• Cooks' note: Braised shank mixture can be chilled, covered, up to 2 days.

RED WINE BRAISED BEEF SHANKS WITH ROASTED GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• If the shanks have a white membrane around the outside, slit that membrane from top to bottom all around the meat to prevent curling during cooking.
• Season the beef shanks with salt and pepper.
• Dredge the beef shanks in the seasoned flour, coating each side completely.
• When the oil is hot, sear the beef shanks for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until brown on all sides.
• Remove the shanks and set aside.
• Add the onions to the pan and saute for 2 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the celery, carrots and parsnips, and continue to saute for 1 minute.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the garlic and herbs.
• Cook for 1 minute.
• Deglaze the pan with the red wine, scraping the bottom and sides to loosen the browned particles.
• Add the stock and mushrooms.
• Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
• Add the beef shanks and continue to cook for about 2-4 hours, basting the shanks often, or until the sauce is stew-like and the meat starts to fall off the bone.
• You can leave it to simmer on the stove, or put the whole pot into a 300 degree oven.
• Season with salt and pepper if needed.
• If sauce is not thick enough, add cornstarch mixed with sauce from stew.
• About half an hour before you are ready to serve, make the potatoes.
• Boil and drain the potatoes.
• Add seasonings and butter, then about 1/3 c half and half.
• Mash to desired consistency, adding more cream as necessary.
• To serve, mound garlic mashed potatoes in the center of the plate.
• Lay a beef shank beside the potatoes and spoon some of the gravy over the top.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

RED WINE BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat.
• Season shanks all over with the Bayou Blast (see NOTE) and brown in Dutch oven about 3 to 4 minutes per side (if using a pressure cooker, you can use a large skillet for the next couple of steps); remove to a plate.
• Add onion, celery, carrots, and mushrooms to Dutch oven (or skillet) and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes.
• Add garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary; cook 2 minutes.
• Add red wine and stir well, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits that have stuck (if using the pressure cooker, pour everything in the skillet into the pressure cooker at this time).
• Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, beef stock, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper; stir well to combine.
• Return shanks, and any accumulated juices, to the Dutch oven or pressure cooker; cover and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to a simmer and cook for 5 hours in the Dutch oven, stirring occasionally (1 1/2 hours in the pressure cooker).
• Taste and adjust seasonings and serve.
• NOTE: Emeril gives this recipe for his creole Essence: 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme (Bayou Blast lists the following ingredients: salt, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, mustard powder, fresh lemon peel, and other spices).

BEEF SHANKS RED WINE BRAISED

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over high heat until very hot. Season shanks on both sides with the Essence, transfer to Dutch oven and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer shanks to a plate and set aside. Add onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms to the Dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and beginning to caramelize, about 7 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 2 minutes. Add red wine and stir well with a wooden spoon, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any bits. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, beef stock, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper and stir well to combine. Return shanks to the Dutch oven and bring sauce to a boil. Cover Dutch oven, lower heat to a simmer and cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally, or until shanks are tender. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, with sauce ladled over Basil-Mashed Potatoes. Serve with Sauteed Fennel and Leeks. Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning): 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons salt 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano 1 tablespoon dried thyme Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container. Yield: about 2/3 cup Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

PRESSURE-COOKER WINE-BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Sprinkle beef with salt. Select saute or browning setting on a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Adjust for medium heat; add oil. When oil is hot, brown beef in batches. Press cancel. Return all to pressure cooker. Add onion, carrot, green pepper, wine, broth and lemon. , Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 40 minutes. Allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure. Press cancel. Remove meat and vegetables from pressure cooker; keep warm. Discard lemon., Skim fat from cooking juices. Select saute setting and adjust for low heat. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Serve with beef and vegetables.