Lamb Shank Recipes

Ingredients:

Braised Lamb Shanks
8 lamb shanks
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbs olive oil
1/4 c butter, melted
2 Tbs fresh thyme leaves plus a bundle of thyme
4 cs chicken broth
16 cloves garlic, sliced
4 medium onions, sliced
1/2 c fresh lemon juice
2 Roma tomatoes, blanched in hot water for 1 minute, peeled, center and seeds removed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
12 fava bean pods, beans removed from pod, boiled in water for 4 minutes, cooled, shelled and thinly sliced
Fresh dill sprigs
Braised Artichokes (Recipe follows)

Braised Artichokes
2-1/2 cs white wine
2-1/2 cs chicken broth
2/3 c extra virgin olive oil
3 leeks thinly sliced, white part only
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 large artichokes, trimmed and rubbed
with fresh lemon wedges
10 thyme sprigs

Method:

Braised Lamb Shanks
Preheat oven to 325°F.

Season lamb shanks with salt and pepper. In large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown each shank on all sides. Combine butter and thyme leaves, baste shanks. Remove shanks from pan. Add broth, garlic and onions. Simmer for 6 minutes. Stir to get all of the delicious particles from bottom of pan. Arrange lamb shanks in large roasting pan. Pour in broth mixture. Add thyme bundle. Cover with foil. Cook in oven for 3-1/2 to 4 hours. (Meanwhile, make braised artichokes.)

Remove shanks, cover and keep warm. Strain liquid and skim off fat. In pan combine broth from shanks and artichokes; add 1/2 c lemon juice. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for 10 minutes. Warm artichoke wedges in broth just before serving.

To serve: Place each shank in large shallow bowl with broth, onions and artichoke wedges. Sprinkle with tomato pieces, fava beans and dill.

Braised Artichokes
In medium bowl, combine wine, chicken broth and oil. In pot with lid (large enough to hold artichokes in single layer), combine leeks, carrots, onion and 1 c broth mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Add garlic and artichokes stem-side up, cover and cook 5 additional minutes. Pour in remaining broth, cover and cook over low heat 35 to 40 minutes until artichoke bottoms can be easily pierced with fork.

Place artichokes and broth into a shallow container along with thyme. Allow to cool. Remove artichokes from broth, reserving broth. Cut into wedges, removing inside fuzzy section.