Slow-Cooked Lamb Shanks with Verjus
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 meaty lamb shanks (about 1 pound each)
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- 10 rosemary sprigs
- 1 large head of garlic, cloves peeled and 3 minced
- 1 whole preserved lemon, rinsed (see Note)
- 2 cups (500 ml) verjus
- 1 cup chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
- 6 bay leaves, preferably imported
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, cracked
- Preheat the oven to 325.
- Heat the olive oil in a large enameled cast-iron casserole.
- Season the lamb shanks with salt and pepper.
- Add 3 shanks to the casserole and cook over moderate heat until browned all over, about 8 minutes; transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining 3 shanks and the rosemary to the casserole and cook until browned.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat and return the first 3 shanks to the casserole.
- Using a sharp knife, remove the pulp from the lemon; discard the pulp.
- Cut the lemon rind into 8 pieces and add to the lamb along with the verjus, stock, garlic cloves, bay leaves, cracked peppercorns and 1 teaspoon of salt; bring to a boil.
- Cover tightly and braise in the oven for 3 hours, or until the meat is tender; turn the shanks occasionally.
- Transfer the lamb to a platter; let cool slightly.
- Pull the meat off the bones and trim any fat.
- Discard the rosemary stems and bay leaves and skim as much fat as possible from the sauce in the casserole.
- Return the meat to the sauce and cook over moderate heat until warm.
- Spoon the lamb into bowls and serve.
extravirgin olive oil, lamb, salt, rosemary, head of garlic, lemon, verjus, chicken stock, bay leaves, whole black
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/slow-cooked-lamb-shanks-with-verjus (may not work)