Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Large onion, diced
- 8 Large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
- 10 sprigs Marjoram, finely chopped
- 5 sprigs Rosemary, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- To taste Salt and black pepper
- 4 Lamb shanks (local farm-raised lambs)
- 1 Large can of organic tomato puree
- 1 quart Beef or chicken broth
- 1 Jar of pitted Kalamata olives, drained
- 1 Jar of capers, drained
- 1 package Sun-dried tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup Red wine
Braised Lamb Shanks
Meal: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredient: Lamb
Season: Fall
Contributor: Slow Food USA - Table Talk Recipe Contest
Directions
4 SERVINGS
Recipe Contributor: Nora Painten, Slow Food USA Table Talk Recipe Contest, 3rd Place
Category: Taste Tradition
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cooking Time: 2 hours
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- On the stove top, heat olive oil in large dutch oven. Add onion, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper, then cook until onion is translucent (about 10 minutes on medium low heat).
- Turn off heat and take pot off stove.
- Add tomato puree, wine, olives, capers and sun-dried tomatoes and stir. Add a shank and see if it submerges.
- Add broth until liquid is high enough to cover 4 shanks.
- Arrange 4 shanks in pot, cover, and roast in oven for 2-2 1/2 hours.
- Serve with creamy, cheesy herbed polenta.
The Story Behind the Recipe: My dad and I have always cooked together. One of my favorite recipes that he makes is French beef stew, inspired by Julia Child. One Christmas, we decided to change it up a bit. We never know what to make on Christmas as it's a small, immediate family-only holiday for us. We've just had a massive turkey for Thanksgiving, and we'll have grilled lobsters on New Year's Eve, but we've never nailed down a traditional Christmas meal. My dad and I decided we loved braised meat and wanted to try braising something on the bone, in sort of an Italian, Mediterranean style. The shank seemed like a non-intimidating cut that would easily fit in the pot. We threw together this recipe, and just about died with pleasure over how good it was. Best christmas meal ever - a tradition is born!
To learn more about cooking with good, clean, and fair food; to find other tips for how to "go slow;" or to join Slow Food USA's mailing list, please visit: www.slowfoodusa.org.
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