Persian-style lamb shanks with figs
Roasting lamb shanks before slowly braising them removes much of the fat and gives a wonderful flavour, which perfectly complements the fragrant vegetable mix here.
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 4servings | 30minutes | 2hours |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4servings | 30minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 2hours |
Ingredients
- 2 lamb shanks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 shallots quartered
- 3 garlic cloves chopped
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- 500 g tomatoes peeled and quartered
- 1 1/2 cups green lentils
- 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 tbsp honey
- 3 1/2 cups diluted salt-reduced or homemade beef or vegetable stock or as needed
- 8 dried figs quartered
- 2 zucchini thickly sliced
- 2 tbsp cilantro roughly chopped
Servings: servings
Units:
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Ingredients
Servings: servings
Units:
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Put the lamb shanks in a large flameproof casserole dish and roast for 25 minutes until they are a rich brown colour on the outside. Drain on paper towel. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C).
- Heat the oil in the casserole dish over a medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring until lightly browned. Stir in the garlic, rosemary, bay leaf and tomatoes and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the lentils, then add the lamb shanks, pushing them down into the vegetable mixture.
- Stir the pomegranate molasses and honey into the stock, then pour over the lamb. Slowly bring to a boil, then cover the casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the casserole from the oven, add a little more stock if needed and stir in the figs and zucchini (this is easier if you lift out the lamb shanks first, then return them after stirring). Cover and bake for a further 45 minutes or until the lamb is very tender. Lift out the lamb and carve the meat from the shanks. Discard the bones and return the meat to the casserole. Gently stir, then serve scattered with cilantro.
Recipe Notes
Cook's tip: Pomegranate molasses is made with concentrated pomegranate juice. If your supermarket doesn't stock it, dry a delicatessen or gourmet food store.
Each serving: 52.5 g protein, 27 g fat of which 9 g saturates, 54.5 g carbohydrate, 13.5 g fibre, 689 Calories
