Best Stout Braised Lamb Shanks Recipes

STOUT-BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large, wide pot over medium-high heat until the oil begins to smoke. Brown the lamb shanks in the hot oil on all sides until well browned, about 10 minutes. Remove lamb shanks and set aside. Pour the excess grease from the Dutch oven, reduce heat to medium, and stir in the onions and garlic. Cook and stir until the onions have softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots, celery, and tomato paste; continue cooking 5 minutes more.
• Return the lamb shanks to the Dutch oven, and pour in the stout beer and beef broth. Bring to a simmer over high heat. While you're waiting for the beer to simmer, use kitchen twine to tie together the thyme sprigs, parsley sprigs, and bay leaf into a secure bundle; add to the lamb shanks.
• Once the lamb shanks begin to simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lamb is very tender and nearly falling off of the bone, 2 to 3 hours. Stir the lamb occasionally as it cooks, and add water if needed to keep the cooking liquid from becoming too thick. You want the cooking liquid to have reduced into a nice sauce by the time the lamb shanks are done. Stir in the rosemary sprig, and salt and pepper to taste during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove rosemary sprig and herb bundle before serving.

STOUT-BRAISED LAMB SHANKS RECIPE WITH ROOT VEGETABLE PUREE

Steps:

• Coat the outside of the lamb shanks liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil just begins to smoke, brown the shanks on all sides in batches, about 10 minutes per batch. Remove shanks and set aside.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil and drippings. Add the shallots and mushrooms to the pot and cook until just starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, carrots, and tomato paste and cook 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour in the stout beer and use a spatula to scrape up all of the brown bits in the bottom of the pot.
• Return the shanks to the pot and pour in the beef stock. Turn the heat to high and bring the liquid to a simmer. Tie the herb sprigs into a bundle with butcher twine and add them to the pot.
• When the liquid comes to a heavy simmer, lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 2½ hours, turning the shanks halfway through, or until the meat is almost falling off the bone. Remove the shanks and set aside.
• For the root vegetable puree: add the root vegetables to a large pot of lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables have softened. Drain the vegetables well and return them to the pot.
• Using an electric beater or immersion blender puree the vegetables until smooth. If desired, mix in 2 tablespoons whole milk or unsalted butter to provide a creamier texture. Add salt and pepper to taste and fold in the chives. Set aside until ready to serve.
• To finish the lamb: Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a boil. Remove the herb bundle and discard. Turn off the heat and add the 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring until melted.
• Serve the shanks over the root vegetable puree and top with a spoonful of sauce.

LAMB SHANKS BRAISED IN STOUT

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Trim excess fat from lamb (Do not remove all fat or shanks will fall apart). Dust lamb shanks with flour. Heat 1/4 cup oil in large roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add lamb in batches; cook until browned on all sides. Remove to bowl.
• 2. Add additional oil to pan, if needed, to make about 2 Tablespoons. Add onions; cook and stir 2 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 2 minutes. Return lamb shanks and any accumulated juices to pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Tuck rosemary and thyme sprigs around lamb. Add stout to pan; pour in broth to almost cover lamb.
• 3. Cover and bake 2 hours or until lamb is very tender and almost falling off bones. Prepare Smashed Chat Potatoes (see below). Remove lamb from pan; keep warm. Skim fat from juices in pan; boil until reduced by half. Strain sauce. Serve lamb over potatoes; pour juice over lamb and potatoes, sprinkle with mint.
• 4. Smashed Chat Potatoes: 1-1/2 lbs. unpeeled small white potatoes 1 Tablespoon butter Salt and pepper, to taste --Bring large saucepan of water to boil. Add potatoes; simmer over medium-low heat about 20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain potatoes; return to saucepan and stir in butter until melted. Partially smash potatoes with fork. Season with salt and pepper. **Note: In Ireland, "chat potatoes" are small white potatoes most often served whole and unpeeled after steaming or boiling. Any small potato may be substituted.