Savory Slow-Cooked Lamb Shanks Braised in Rich Red Wine

General Added: 10/6/2024

Discover a delightful culinary experience with our Savory Slow-Cooked Lamb Shanks Braised in Rich Red Wine. This recipe transforms even the most hesitant lamb eaters into enthusiastic fans. The tender lamb shanks are lovingly braised in a robust red wine sauce infused with fragrant garlic, aromatic spices, and the richness of balsamic vinegar. Perfect for family dinners or cozy gatherings, this dish not only warms the heart but leaves your kitchen filled with irresistible aromas. Feel free to adapt the recipe based on available ingredients, ensuring that each batch is unique to you. Best of all, it freezes beautifully, making it an excellent option to keep on hand for those busy days. Serve it alongside creamy mustard mash for a truly comforting and satisfying meal!

N/A

Servings

N/A

Calories

Ingredients

Savory Slow-Cooked Lamb Shanks Braised in Rich Red Wine instructions

Ingredients

Lamb Shanks 6 (trimmed)

Garlic 4-10 cloves (minced)

Red Wine 375 ml (dry red wine recommended)

Balsamic Vinegar 200 ml (optional)

Smoked Paprika 1/2 teaspoon

Harissa or Cayenne 1 teaspoon

Vegetable Oil 1 tablespoon

French Onion Soup 3 (15 ounce) cans

Chopped Tomatoes 1 (15 ounce) can

Cornflour or Cornstarch 1 tablespoon (mixed with water to form a slurry)

Instructions

Begin by browning the lamb shanks in a large skillet over medium-high heat until they are golden on all sides. This will enhance their flavor.

Once browned, transfer the lamb shanks to the slow cooker. Pour the French onion soup and the can of chopped tomatoes over the shanks, adding the minced garlic for an extra kick of flavor.

In the same skillet, add the vegetable oil and spices. Sauté until the spices become aromatic and deepen in color, about 2 minutes. Carefully add the red wine and balsamic vinegar. Increase the heat and let the mixture simmer until it's reduced by half.

Pour the reduced wine mixture over the lamb shanks in the slow cooker. Set the slow cooker to low and let it cook for 7-8 hours until the lamb is tender.

One hour before serving, mix the cornflour (or instant mashed potato) with a little water to create a slurry. Stir this into the sauce to thicken it. If using instant mashed potato, sprinkle it directly and stir well.

For the best texture, remove the lamb shanks after about 6 hours. Debone the meat and discard any excess fat. Shred the meat and return it to the sauce to soak up even more flavor, ensuring that each serving is deliciously hearty.

Nutrition Information

lamb shanks slow cooker comfort food braised red wine hearty stew easy recipe meal prep freezer-friendly

Frequently Asked Questions

W h a t i s t h e m a i n p r o t e i n i n t h i s r e c i p e ?

T h e m a i n p r o t e i n c o n s i s t s o f s i x t r i m m e d l a m b s h a n k s .

H o w l o n g d o e s t h e l a m b n e e d t o c o o k i n t h e s l o w c o o k e r ?

T h e l a m b s h o u l d b e c o o k e d o n t h e l o w s e t t i n g f o r 7 t o 8 h o u r s u n t i l t e n d e r .

W h a t t y p e o f w i n e i s r e c o m m e n d e d f o r t h e b r a i s i n g l i q u i d ?

A d r y r e d w i n e i s r e c o m m e n d e d f o r t h i s r e c i p e .

C a n t h i s r e c i p e b e f r o z e n f o r l a t e r u s e ?

Y e s , t h i s d i s h f r e e z e s b e a u t i f u l l y , m a k i n g i t a n e x c e l l e n t o p t i o n f o r m e a l p r e p .

W h a t i s t h e b e s t s i d e d i s h t o s e r v e w i t h t h e s e l a m b s h a n k s ?

I t i s h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d t o s e r v e t h e m a l o n g s i d e c r e a m y m u s t a r d m a s h .

W h y s h o u l d I b r o w n t h e l a m b s h a n k s b e f o r e p l a c i n g t h e m i n t h e s l o w c o o k e r ?

B r o w n i n g t h e l a m b s h a n k s e n h a n c e s t h e i r f l a v o r a n d c r e a t e s a g o l d e n e x t e r i o r .

H o w m u c h g a r l i c i s u s e d i n t h i s r e c i p e ?

T h e r e c i p e c a l l s f o r 4 t o 1 0 m i n c e d g a r l i c c l o v e s .

W h a t a r e t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s f o r t h i c k e n i n g t h e s a u c e ?

Y o u c a n u s e e i t h e r a c o r n f l o u r s l u r r y o r s p r i n k l e i n s t a n t m a s h e d p o t a t o d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e s a u c e .

H o w m u c h b a l s a m i c v i n e g a r i s r e q u i r e d ?

T h e r e c i p e u s e s 2 0 0 m l o f b a l s a m i c v i n e g a r , w h i c h i s l i s t e d a s o p t i o n a l .

W h e n s h o u l d t h e t h i c k e n i n g a g e n t b e a d d e d ?

T h e t h i c k e n i n g a g e n t s h o u l d b e m i x e d i n o n e h o u r b e f o r e s e r v i n g .

W h i c h s p i c e s p r o v i d e t h e h e a t i n t h i s d i s h ?

T h e h e a t c o m e s f r o m o n e t e a s p o o n o f e i t h e r h a r i s s a o r c a y e n n e p e p p e r .

W h a t t y p e o f s o u p i s u s e d a s t h e b a s e f o r t h e b r a i s e ?

T h r e e 1 5 - o u n c e c a n s o f F r e n c h o n i n g s o u p a r e u s e d .

H o w m u c h r e d w i n e i s n e e d e d ?

T h e r e c i p e r e q u i r e s 3 7 5 m l o f r e d w i n e .

W h a t d o I d o w i t h t h e w i n e a n d v i n e g a r m i x t u r e b e f o r e a d d i n g i t t o t h e s l o w c o o k e r ?

Y o u s h o u l d s i m m e r t h e m i x t u r e i n a s k i l l e t u n t i l i t i s r e d u c e d b y h a l f .

S h o u l d t h e l a m b b e d e b o n e d b e f o r e o r a f t e r c o o k i n g ?

F o r b e s t r e s u l t s , d e b o n e t h e m e a t a f t e r a b o u t 6 h o u r s o f c o o k i n g .

W h a t s h o u l d b e d o n e w i t h t h e m e a t a f t e r i t i s d e b o n e d ?

T h e m e a t s h o u l d b e s h r e d d e d a n d r e t u r n e d t o t h e s a u c e t o s o a k u p m o r e f l a v o r .

H o w m u c h s m o k e d p a p r i k a i s i n c l u d e d ?

T h e r e c i p e c a l l s f o r 1 / 2 t e a s p o o n o f s m o k e d p a p r i k a .

W h a t k i n d o f t o m a t o e s a r e u s e d ?

O n e 1 5 - o u n c e c a n o f c h o p p e d t o m a t o e s i s r e q u i r e d .

W h a t i s t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e v e g e t a b l e o i l ?

I t i s u s e d t o s a u t e t h e s p i c e s u n t i l t h e y b e c o m e a r o m a t i c .

I s t h i s r e c i p e c o n s i d e r e d e a s y t o m a k e ?

Y e s , i t i s t a g g e d a s a n e a s y r e c i p e t h a t i s h e a r t y a n d c o m f o r t i n g .

C a n I a d a p t t h e i n g r e d i e n t s ?

A b s o l u t e l y , t h e r e c i p e e n c o u r a g e s a d a p t i n g b a s e d o n v a r i a b l e a v a i l a b i l i t y t o m a k e e a c h b a t c h u n i q u e .

H o w m u c h v e g e t a b l e o i l i s n e e d e d ?

O n e t a b l e s p o o n o f v e g e t a b l e o i l i s u s e d .

W h a t s h o u l d I d o w i t h t h e e x c e s s f a t f r o m t h e l a m b ?

E x c e s s f a t s h o u l d b e d i s c a r d e d w h e n d e b o n i n g t h e m e a t .

H o w m a n y t o t a l i n g r e d i e n t s a r e i n t h i s d i s h ?

T h e r e a r e a t o t a l o f 1 0 m a i n i n g r e d i e n t s .

S h o u l d t h e l a m b b e t r i m m e d ?

Y e s , t h e l a m b s h a n k s s h o u l d b e t r i m m e d b e f o r e c o o k i n g .

W h a t i s t h e s i z e o f t h e s o u p c a n s ?

T h e s o u p c o m e s i n 1 5 - o u n c e c a n s .

I s c o r n s t a r c h t h e s a m e a s c o r n f l o u r i n t h i s r e c i p e ?

Y e s , t h e y a r e u s e d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y t o f o r m a s l u r r y .

H o w l o n g s h o u l d t h e s p i c e s b e s a u t e e d ?

T h e y s h o u l d b e s a u t e e d f o r a b o u t 2 m i n u t e s u n t i l a r o m a t i c .

W h a t h e a t s e t t i n g s h o u l d b e u s e d t o b r o w n t h e l a m b ?

U s e m e d i u m - h i g h h e a t i n a l a r g e s k i l l e t .

W h a t i s t h e t e x t u r e o f t h e f i n i s h e d m e a t ?

T h e m e a t i s v e r y t e n d e r a n d d e l i c i o u s l y h e a r t y .